TY - GEN

T1 - Natural antioxidants in chemoprevention

AU - Dragsted, Lars Ove

N1 - (Ekstern)

PY - 1998

Y1 - 1998

N2 - It is well documented that diets rich in fruits and vegetables can reduce the risk of most common cancers, and that some food items from this class may be protective against heart disease. Several explanations have been offered, one of which relates to the natural presence of potent antioxidants in plant products. Destructive oxidation of lipids, proteins, DNA, and other important biomolecules, often involving radical chain reactions, affect vital cellular structures and their normal functions. Such processes are involved in the development of cancer as well as heart disease, and it seems logical to assume that antioxidants might be preventive. Large human trials with natural antioxidants have not provided a uniform support, however, for the hypothesis that antioxidation per se may prevent cancer or coronary heart disease (CHD)1. One reason is that other effects, unrelated to antioxidation, may compromise their preventive effects. Another reason may be that many potent antioxidants can also act as pro-oxidants under certain conditions. The interpretation of animal trials is likewise often compromised by the fact that most antioxidants have other physiological effects which might very well explain their protective action or lead to toxic side-effects. In addition, absorption, metabolism and distribution may profoundly influence their antioxidant actions, and not all cellular compartments are equally well protected. Furthermore, interactions between antioxidant systems are only partially understood.

AB - It is well documented that diets rich in fruits and vegetables can reduce the risk of most common cancers, and that some food items from this class may be protective against heart disease. Several explanations have been offered, one of which relates to the natural presence of potent antioxidants in plant products. Destructive oxidation of lipids, proteins, DNA, and other important biomolecules, often involving radical chain reactions, affect vital cellular structures and their normal functions. Such processes are involved in the development of cancer as well as heart disease, and it seems logical to assume that antioxidants might be preventive. Large human trials with natural antioxidants have not provided a uniform support, however, for the hypothesis that antioxidation per se may prevent cancer or coronary heart disease (CHD)1. One reason is that other effects, unrelated to antioxidation, may compromise their preventive effects. Another reason may be that many potent antioxidants can also act as pro-oxidants under certain conditions. The interpretation of animal trials is likewise often compromised by the fact that most antioxidants have other physiological effects which might very well explain their protective action or lead to toxic side-effects. In addition, absorption, metabolism and distribution may profoundly influence their antioxidant actions, and not all cellular compartments are equally well protected. Furthermore, interactions between antioxidant systems are only partially understood.

KW - Faculty of Science

KW - Coronary heart disease

KW - Natural antioxidant

KW - Macrophage scavenger receptor

KW - Hamster buccal pouch

KW - Morin hydrate

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0031607310&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1007/978-3-642-46856-8_19

DO - 10.1007/978-3-642-46856-8_19

M3 - Article in proceedings

C2 - 9442295

AN - SCOPUS:0031607310

T3 - Archives of Toxicology

SP - 209

EP - 226

BT - Diversification in Toxicology - Man and Environment

A2 - Seiler, J P

PB - Springer

CY - Heidelberg

ER -