Oxidative Stress
Episodes
In this clip, Dr. Rhonda Patrick discusses the many ways in which sulforaphane aids the body in excreting harmful compounds.
In this clip, Dr. Mark Mattson describes the importance of transient, short-term, mild energetic stress to maintain healthy cells.
In this clip, Dr. Jed Fahey rebuts popular claims that an all-meat diet is healthful.
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In this clip, Dr. Rhonda Patrick discusses the many ways in which sulforaphane aids the body in excreting harmful compounds.
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In this clip, Dr. Mark Mattson describes the importance of transient, short-term, mild energetic stress to maintain healthy cells.
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In this clip, Dr. Jed Fahey rebuts popular claims that an all-meat diet is healthful.
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Sulforaphane increases brain glutathione: relevance in autism, TBI, brain aging | Rhonda Patrick ClipIn this clip, Dr. Rhonda Patrick describes advances in sulforaphane research that are particularly relevant to the brain.
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Dr. Patrick covers vitamin C's diverse aspects: bioavailability, immune function, viral protection, lung health, cancer impact, exercise effects, and more!
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Rhonda Vitamin D Brain Cancer Epigenetics Aging Hormones Diabetes Vitamin C Antibiotics Vitamin K Sulforaphane Sauna Glutathione Oxidative Stress NAD+ CardiovascularDr. Rhonda Patrick answers audience questions on various health, nutrition, and science topics in this Q&A session.
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Dr. Guido Kroemer describes the anti-diabetes and anti-obesity effects of exercise-induced autophagy.
Topic Pages
News & Publications
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Exposure to fine particulate matter in air pollution more than doubles the risk of developing eczema. journals.plos.org
Eczema, a chronic inflammatory skin condition, affects roughly 10% of people in the United States. Evidence suggests that environmental factors, including air pollution, influence the risk of developing eczema. A recent study found that exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5), a key component of ambient air pollution, more than doubles the risk of eczema.
Researchers drew on data from adults enrolled in the All of Us Research Program. They compared people with eczema to those without, linking their zip codes to average annual PM2.5 concentrations. Then, they analyzed the relationship between PM2.5 levels and eczema while adjusting for factors like demographics, smoking, and other skin conditions.
They found that people with eczema were exposed to higher levels of PM2.5 than those without eczema. People with eczema lived in areas with about 2% higher PM2.5 concentrations, and the risk of eczema increased considerably with higher pollution levels. The odds of having eczema were more than twice as high (158%) in areas with the highest PM2.5 concentrations, even after accounting for smoking and other health conditions.
These findings suggest that air pollution contributes to the development of eczema. Given that PM2.5 can infiltrate the skin and contribute to skin barrier dysfunction, oxidative stress, and inflammation, addressing air pollution could be a key strategy for preventing and managing eczema. Sulforaphane, a bioactive compound derived from broccoli, promotes the excretion of air pollutants. Learn more in this clip featuring Dr. Jed Fahey.
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The skin is the body’s first line of defense against environmental exposures. However, the skin changes considerably as we age, reducing its defense capacity. A 2021 study in mice found that sulforaphane, a bioactive compound derived from broccoli, mitigates age-related skin changes by activating Nrf2, a protein that participates in the body’s antioxidant defense system.
Researchers fed young and old mice regular mouse chow or chow supplemented with sulforaphane for three months. They assessed the antioxidant capacity and protein expression levels in the animals' skin. They also measured levels of reactive oxygen species and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9, a protein involved in tissue remodeling, inflammation, and wound healing), assessed epidermal and dermal thickness changes, and analyzed collagen content.
They found that sulforaphane reduced reactive oxygen species and MMP9 levels in older mice. It also increased the skin’s antioxidant capacity, as evidenced by enhanced Nrf2 production. They observed no difference in epidermal thickness between young and old SFN-treated mice, but dermal layers were thinner in older mice. Collagen content improved in young and old mice, with more substantial structural improvements observed in the older group.
These findings suggest that dietary supplementation with sulforaphane ameliorates age-related skin changes in mice by activating the Nrf2 pathway, enhancing antioxidant defenses and reducing oxidative stress.
Notably, the dose provided in this mouse study was very high, translating to about 2,500 milligrams of sulforaphane in humans – roughly the amount supplied in 63 cups of broccoli sprouts. Nevertheless, sulforaphane’s antioxidant-inducing capacity is well established, and consumption of sulforaphane-rich foods is associated with increased healthspan and lifespan. Broccoli sprouts are excellent sources of sulforaphane and are easy to grow at home. For tips on how to grow broccoli sprouts, check out our comprehensive Sprouting Guide, a members-only perk.
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Cinnamon is one of the most consumed spices in the world, popular in both sweet and savory dishes in many cuisines. Evidence suggests cinnamon improves lipid profiles and protects against damage induced by oxidative stress, improving metabolic profiles in people with type 2 diabetes. New research now shows that a component of cinnamon may promote hair growth.
Researchers studied the effects of cinnamic acid, a component of cinnamon, on hair growth. First, they treated dermal papilla cells (cells involved in hair formation and development) with varying concentrations (0 to 2,000 micrograms per milliliter, µg/mL) of cinnamic acid. They found that low to moderate concentrations of the compound (less than 500 µg/mL) increased the production of genes involved in hair growth and enhanced the activity of receptors for oxytocin, a hormone, in the cells.
Next, they studied the effects of cinnamic acid on hair follicle organoids called follicloids. Organoids are three-dimensional tissue cultures produced from stem cells that mimic the structure and activity of the organ from which they are derived. They applied varying concentrations (0, 50, 100, and 500 µg/mL) of cinnamic acid to the follicloids and measured hair growth for 10 days. They found that concentrations of 100 to 500 µg/mL of cinnamic acid promoted hair growth in the follicloids by the eighth day.
These findings suggest that cinnamic acid is a viable option for promoting hair growth by targeting the oxytocin receptor. Recent research found that oxytocin promotes hair growth, but because oxytocin breaks down rapidly and is a relatively large molecule, it isn’t a good candidate for use in pharmaceutical or cosmetic treatments to grow hair. However, cinnamic acid is a naturally occurring polyphenol with potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer properties. Learn more about polyphenols in our overview article.
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Microplastic accumulation in arterial plaques increases the risk for cardiovascular disease-related events nearly fivefold. www.nbcnews.com
Tiny plastic particles, often called microplastics – ranging between 5 millimeters and 100 nanometers – are ubiquitous environmental pollutants. Scientists have identified microplastics in food (especially seafood), soil, drinking water, fresh- and saltwater bodies, and air. A recent study found that microplastics accumulate in human arterial plaques, increasing the risk for cardiovascular disease-related events, such as heart attack or stroke, nearly fivefold.
The study involved 257 patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy, a procedure in which a surgeon removes plaques from the heart’s arteries. Researchers analyzed the plaque for the presence of microplastics, measured the patients' inflammatory biomarkers, and tracked their health for about three years.
They found that more than half of the patients (58.4 percent) had microplastics in their arterial plaques, appearing as jagged-edged foreign particles. Those with microplastics in their plaques were 4.53 times more likely to experience a cardiovascular disease-related event during the three-year follow-up than those without microplastics. They were also more likely to be male, younger, and have diabetes, cardiovascular disease, abnormal blood lipids, and higher inflammatory markers.
These findings suggest that microplastics, a ubiquitous environmental pollutant, accumulate in arterial plaques, markedly increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease-related events. Evidence indicates that microplastic exposure is associated with many other adverse health outcomes. For example, a comprehensive review of the effects of microplastics revealed that microplastics induce oxidative stress and increase the risk for metabolic dysfunction, neurotoxicity, and some cancers. Some of these effects may be due to compounds commonly associated with plastic manufacturing, such as bisphenol A, or BPA, phthalates, and heavy metals that are present in and on microplastics.
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Alzheimer’s disease affects more than 24 million people worldwide, with numbers expected to grow as the population ages. A growing body of evidence links mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress to the development of Alzheimer’s disease. A recent study in mice found that sulforaphane, a bioactive compound derived from broccoli and broccoli sprouts, boosts memory, improves mitochondrial function, and reduces oxidative stress.
Researchers studied normal mice and mice prone to developing a condition similar to Alzheimer’s. They fed half of each type of mice standard mouse chow. They fed the other half normal chow supplemented with a broccoli sprout powder rich in glucoraphanin and myrosinase – the precursors to sulforaphane. They subjected the mice to various memory tests and assessed their mitochondrial function.
They found that Alzheimer’s disease-prone mice that ate the broccoli sprout powder-supplemented chow performed better on memory tests than those that didn’t. These mice demonstrated higher levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1 alpha (PGC1α) and mitochondrial transcription factor A – proteins that regulate mitochondrial biogenesis (the production of new mitochondria). They also showed upregulated expression of cellular antioxidant defense system components that protect against oxidative stress.
These findings suggest that sulforaphane from broccoli sprouts prevents age-related cognitive decline by maintaining mitochondrial function, thereby reducing oxidative stress in mice.
Sulforaphane is an isothiocyanate compound with robust antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer effects. It reduces oxidative stress by switching on the activity of Nrf2, a cellular protein that activates the transcription of cytoprotective proteins that protect against oxidative stress due to injury and inflammation. Sulforaphane is the most potent naturally occurring inducer of Nrf2. Learn how to grow your own broccoli sprouts – a terrific source of sulforaphane – in this short video.
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Breathwork enhances endogenous antioxidant enzyme activity to counter oxidative stress. www.frontiersin.orgVitamin C Mortality Sulforaphane Glutathione Nitric Oxide Antioxidant Oxidative Stress Breathing Technique
Breathwork has shown promise in ameliorating oxidative stress – a driver of many chronic diseases – in healthy people and those with chronic conditions. However, scientists don’t fully understand the underlying mechanisms that drive these effects. A recent review found that breathwork promotes the activity of endogenous antioxidant enzymes.
Researchers analyzed the findings of 10 randomized controlled trials (519 participants) investigating the effects of breathwork. The studies encompassed a range of breathwork styles and measured various biomarkers, including malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, glutathione, nitric oxide, vitamin C, and total antioxidant capacity levels.
They found that participants who engaged in breathwork exhibited greater changes in the biomarkers than those who did not. In particular, breathwork increased the activity of the endogenous antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase and glutathione activities and decreased levels of malondialdehyde, a marker of oxidative stress.
Breathwork is an umbrella term that refers to various breathing exercises and techniques. Evidence suggests that breathwork improves heart rate variability and promotes resilience to stress. People often engage in breathwork as part of general relaxation practices, yoga, or meditation.
These findings suggest that breathwork reduces oxidative stress by promoting the activity of endogenous antioxidant enzymes. Only 10 studies were included in the analysis, however, so more research is needed to support the findings. Sulforaphane, a bioactive compound derived from broccoli, reduces oxidative stress, too. Learn more in this clip featuring sulforaphane expert Dr. Jed Fahey.
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Sleep deprivation leads to fatal accumulation of oxidative stress in the gut, but antioxidant diet can extend lifespan. www.genengnews.com
Sleep – a state that renders animals stationary and less responsive to stimuli – is crucial for survival. Some evidence suggests that sleep is important because it protects the body against harmful oxidative stress. A 2020 study in flies and mice showed that reactive oxygen species, which drive oxidative stress, accumulate in the gut during sleep deprivation, leading to death.
Researchers deprived flies and mice of sleep for various durations, occasionally allowing them to sleep. Then, they measured reactive oxygen species in the animals' tissues, including the heart, brain, muscles, and gut. They repeated the experiment but gave the animals antioxidant compounds during the sleep deprivation period.
They found that animals that experienced extended sleep deprivation died, but allowing them to sleep periodically prevented death, albeit with slightly shorter lifespans. Sleep deprivation markedly increased reactive oxygen species in the animals' guts. After ending the sleep deprivation, the reactive oxygen species levels slowly decreased, nearly returning to their baseline levels. Providing the animals with dietary antioxidant compounds reduced the harmful effects of reactive oxygen species, and the animals lived normal lifespans despite sleep deprivation.
These findings suggest that sleep deprivation shortens lifespan and causes death due to the accumulation of reactive species in the guts of flies and mice. However, dietary antioxidant compounds reduce reactive oxygen species in the gut and moderate the harmful effects of sleep deprivation. Learn how sleep deprivation affects the brain in this short video featuring Dr. Rhonda Patrick.
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Quinol-based antioxidant cycle may maintain the "chemical shield" raised by estrogens that protects neurons from reactive oxygen species. (2003) www.sciencedaily.com
From the article:
“We now know how estrogen keeps brain cells alive even when exposed to an insult like stroke, Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s disease.”
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“During a stroke, free radicals damage important cells in the body, most notably nerve cells,” said Laszlo Prokai, PhD, a chemist with UF’s College of Pharmacy.
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“In layman’s terms, a spill occurs when the blood starts flowing into the blocked territory, and the overflow hydroxyl radical is the spill,” Prokai said. “The estrogen is the mop, soaking up the hydroxyl radicals before they do damage. But when the mop is saturated, you have to squeeze it to continue mopping. This mechanism has never been fully understood before.”
When the estrogen and hydroxyl radicals combine, an unusual molecule called a quinol is produced. In this form, the hydroxyl radicals are harmless, but the estrogen is no longer useful as an antioxidant. Prokai investigated and discovered chemicals in the body transform the quinol back to estrogen, effectively wringing out the mop and making it useful again.
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In terms of therapies, scientists believe administering the quinol — the saturated mop — will deliver the protective benefits of estrogen, because the body will naturally wring it out and convert it to estrogen, while side effects associated with direct estrogen therapy, such as feminization in men, may remain in check.
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Chronic estradiol exposure led to hypertension in rats by promoting excessive superoxide levels in a blood pressure regulating brain area. (2011) www.sciencedaily.com
From the article:
The researchers looked to the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM), a critical region in the brain stem known to be involved with the maintenance of blood pressure and thought to be associated with hypertension and heart failure. They theorized that chronic exposure to low levels of estrogen (in the form of estradiol-17β, also called E2) could influence this area of the brain.
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To test their hypotheses they conducted a two-phase experiment using rats. In phase 1, animals were divided into groups and used as either controls or implanted with E2. After 90 days of E2 exposure the animals were examined and key data collected. In phase 2, the animals were used as either controls or implanted with E2 and, in addition, fed resveratrol-laced chow for 90 days. As with phase 1, RVLM was subsequently isolated from each animal and examined for increases in superoxide, hypertension and other key health markers.
Results
The researchers found that chronic E2 exposure caused a significant increase in superoxide in the RVLM, and in blood pressure. In addition they determined that the increases in both indicators were reversed with resveratrol. Taken together, the findings demonstrate that chronic exposure to low levels of E2 is capable of causing hypertension, possibly by increasing superoxide generation in the RVLM.
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Age-related depletion of nitric oxide synthase cofactors may change the antihypertensive effect of estrogen into a prohypertensive effect. (2005) www.sciencedaily.com
From the article:
They were studying estrogen’s effects on blood vessels, focusing on its impact on the smooth muscle cells that allow blood vessels to contract, thereby regulating blood pressure and blood flow. These researchers found that estrogen targets nitric oxide synthase 1, one of three versions of the enzyme that makes the powerful vasodilator, nitric oxide.
“What we were finding is that estrogen seems to be what you might call a natural nitroglycerin; nitroglycerin also works by making nitric oxide,” Dr. White says.
Then they tried to block estrogen’s activity by blocking nitric oxide. “What surprised the heck out of me was after we blocked nitric oxide production and added estrogen, we got a contraction,” says Dr. White. “Estrogen now had turned into a constrictor agent, an agent that would increase blood pressure.”
They looked further and found that normal aging decreases levels of the cofactors L-arginine and tetrahydrobiopterin – both critical to nitric oxide synthase’s production of nitric oxide.
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“Under normal conditions, such as a pre-menopausal woman, this enzyme, nitric oxide synthase, makes nitric oxide,” says Dr. White. “But if you block the production of nitric oxide, this nitric oxide synthase now has a secondary product that normally isn’t made in an appreciable form. Now it makes a compound called superoxide. It’s an oxidant, and oxidation is bad in general. It causes a lot of cellular damage. But what we also have found is that now, instead of causing relaxation, it causes constriction. So you completely flip-flop the response here.
“One of the things this means is that menopause is a good thing, a sort of revolutionary endocrinology idea,” says Dr. White.
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Several environmental and lifestyle factors can lower testosterone levels. (2020) www.tandfonline.comVitamin D Diet Obesity Sleep Hormones Stress Magnesium Testosterone Zinc Polyphenol Oxidative Stress
From the publication:
Many factors, including external, environmental and internal factors, influence testosterone levels. The impact of energy intake derived from a testosterone-boosting diet depends on a human body mass. In the case of people of healthy body mass, insufficient energy intake may result in a reduction in testosterone levels in men. The same energy deficit in obese people, may, in turn, result in a neutral or positive impact on the levels of the hormone. Undoubtedly, nutritional deficiency, and particularly of such nutrients as zinc, magnesium, vitamin D, together with low polyphenols intake, affects the HPG [hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal] axis. The levels of mental and oxidative stress can also adversely impact the axis. The higher the cortisol levels in a human body, or the higher its daily fluctuation, the lower the testosterone levels. What is more, the effect seems to be strengthened by excessive body weight, which is related to the increased oxidative stress affecting the functions of the Leydig cells. Other factors which might disrupt testosterone synthesis may be the length and quality of sleep. Even though the issue is relatively unknown, it appears that both sleep deprivation (shorter than five hours) and low quality of sleep (sleeping with the light on, sleeping during the day, under the influence of alcohol) impact the testosterone levels negatively.
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Higher serum magnesium concentrations may reduce the risk of brain aneurysms and aneurysmal brain bleeding. (2021) www.physiciansweekly.com
Higher serum magnesium concentrations reduce the risk of having a brain aneurysm.
A brain aneurysm is a weakness in a blood vessel in the brain that swells and fills with blood. If the aneurysm ruptures, it releases blood into the spaces that surround the brain. This bleeding can cause many complications, including hemorrhagic stroke, brain damage, coma, and even death. Evidence from a 2021 study suggests that higher serum magnesium concentrations reduce the risk of having a brain aneurysm.
Magnesium is an essential mineral and a cofactor for hundreds of enzymes. Found in green leafy vegetables, nuts, and seeds, magnesium participates in many physiological processes, including energy production, protein synthesis, ion transport, and cell signaling. Magnesium deficiency is linked with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes. Genetic variants called single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) influence magnesium status.
The investigators conducted an analysis using Mendelian randomization, a research method that provides evidence of links between modifiable risk factors and disease based on genetic variants within a population. Mendelian randomization is less likely to be affected by confounding or reverse causation than other types of studies, but since it is based on assumptions, the likelihood of the assumptions must be taken into consideration. Their analysis focused on five magnesium-related SNPs identified in a genome-wide association study in nearly 24,000 people of European ancestry. They found that for every 0.1 mmol/L genetically predicted increase in serum magnesium concentration, the risk of having either a ruptured or unruptured brain aneurysm decreased 34 percent.
These findings suggest that higher magnesium concentrations reduce the risk of having a brain aneurysm. Learn more about the importance of magnesium in this episode featuring Dr. Rhonda Patrick.
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β-Hydroxybutyrate, the body's major source of energy during exercise or fasting, blocks histone deacetylases that otherwise promote oxidative stress www.sciencedaily.com
From the article:
“Over the years, studies have found that restricting calories slows aging and increases longevity – however the mechanism of this effect has remained elusive” Dr. Verdin said. Dr. Verdin, the paper’s senior author, directs the Center for HIV & Aging at Gladstone and is also a professor at the University of California, San Francisco, with which Gladstone is affiliated. “Here, we find that βOHB – the body’s major source of energy during exercise or fasting – blocks a class of enzymes that would otherwise promote oxidative stress, thus protecting cells from aging.”
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Normally HDACs keep a pair of genes, called Foxo3a and Mt2, switched off. But increased levels of βOHB block the HDACs from doing so, which by default activates the two genes. Once activated, these genes kick-start a process that helps cells resist oxidative stress. This discovery not only identifies a novel signaling role for βOHB, but it could also represent a way to slow the detrimental effects of aging in all cells of the body.