FREE-RADICALS AND MUSCLE DAMAGE

Muscle tissue is unique in its requirement and ability to undertake ve ry rapid and co-ordinated changes in energy supply and oxygen flux dur ing contraction. Several studies have suggested that this renders the tissue particularly prone to oxygen radical-mediated damage. Free radi cals have been postulated to play a role in muscle damage induced by d ifferent forms of exercise and in various pathological disorders, such as the muscular dystrophies, malignant hyperthermia and alcoholic myo pathy. However, conclusive evidence for a fundamental role for free ra dicals and protective effect of antioxidants remains elusive in all th ese situations and much further work on the relevant pathogenetic mech anisms is still required.