Obesity and Weight Loss
OXIDATIVE STRESS IN OBESITY EFFECTS METABOLIC SYNDROME – (12-29-04)
INCREASED OXIDATIVE STRESS IN OBESITY AND ITS IMPACT ON METABOLIC SYNDROME
I’m really not making this stuff up. Remember that the mitochondria are our cell’s source of energy production. In the process of creating ATP for energy, free electrons (termed free radicals) are formed that, by themselves, create damage to DNA, cellular machinery and cell membranes. In addition, free radicals participate in other reactions with compounds like nitric oxide that produce incredibly damaging compounds.
This problem is further worsened by the fact that the DNA of the mitochondria (remember that mitochondria has its own DNA separate from the cell’s DNA) is very close to these damaging compounds and the repair mechanisms of the mitochondria are nowhere near as good as the cell’s ability to repair its DNA. Luckily, the cell has many compounds that protect against free radicals–glutathione, melatonin, Vit C, Vit E, alpha lipoic acid….. But, what if the mitochondria was producing so many free radicals that the protective compounds couldn’t keep up? Or if the person’s diet was producing low levels of these protective compounds? The end result is in too much damage to the mitochondria and ultimately the cell.
