The Condition"...Antioxidants from food include not only vitamins C and E and beta carotene, but also some elements such as selenium and copper (which form antioxidant metallo-enzymes), and other compounds found in plant foods such as flavonoids and polyphenols..."
The Condition"...Naturally-occurring antioxidant vitamins include carotenoids (which may also be pro-vitamin A), the vitamin E family of compounds (tocopherols and tocotrienols) and vitamin C..."
The Condition"...a variety of age-related conditions such as heart disease and cancer have been linked to oxidation processes within the body that take place due to an excess of reactive molecules, also known as " free radicals"..." Relationship to Parkinson's Disease"...an excess of free radicals in the body, can cause disease was first brought forward in 1983..."
The Condition"...Upon oxidation, these micronutrients need to be regenerated in the biological setting, hence the need for further coupling to other reducing systems such as glutathione/glutathione disulfide, dihydrolipoate/lipoate, or NADPH/NADP+ and NADH/NAD+..." Relationship to Parkinson's Disease"...Numerous studies have shown that Parkinson's disease victims have low levels of natural antioxidants ( glutathione and superoxide dismutase) and high levels of iron in the substantia nigra areas of their brains..."
The Condition"...Some elements found in the diet exert their in vivo antioxidant effects as metallo-enzymes such as selenium (as part of glutathione peroxidase) and copper (as part of superoxide dismutases)..."
The Condition"...So far, most evidence suggests that plant-derived food is protective against age-related diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and cancer, rather than ageing itself..."
The Condition"...Some compounds found in fruits and vegetables that may promote health ( phytochemicals) are powerful antioxidants..."
The Condition"...If ROS or RNS outnumber the antioxidant stores in the body, they can inactivate enzymes, oxidise lipids and damage genetic material (DNA)..."
The Condition"...For example, ROS or RNS may be dissipated from a lipid soluble environment, without lipid peroxide formation, to a water soluble environment through the availability of, in sequence, ubiquinone ( coenzyme Q10), vitamin E and vitamin C..."