ANTIOXIDATIVE STRESS

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this short review is to provoke focuses on the antioxidant-induced stress. Although there are studies documenting that supplementation with antioxidants appears to reduce lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress, it is still unknown exactly what amounts are needed to have a beneficial antioxidant effect and which dose reflects the safe and appropri-ate limit for use. Many of antioxidant vitamins and the other antioxidants can cause pathologic changes to the exposed tissues and to the organs of the bodies by initiating different mechanisms. These harmful and undesired effects are created by prooxidant, antioxi-dant or some other unknown ways. Although the most important point related to the use of antioxidants is not their dosages, the term hypervitaminosis is com-monly used referring to the negative effects of the over-doses of the vitamin antioxidants. The question which level of the antioxidants may lead to stress is unan-swered yet though this is vital in determining antioxidative stress. This article uses the term “antioxidative stress” for the first time for the nega-tive effects of antioxidants. In our opinion, focusing on antioxidative stress is essential as it is on oxida-tive stress by the medical disciplines. For this purpose, close collaboration between the triad of molecular bio-chemist, physiologist and the pharmacologist is re-quired to develop new, specific, and more effective antioxidants and therapy modulations. We believe that further studies are needed to elucidate the factors and ways creating the antioxidative stress, as well as its consequences together with an “insurance policy” containing appropriate measures against to it. Key words: Antioxidative stress, oxidants, antioxidants, vitamins.