VITAMIN-E AND OTHER ENDOGENOUS ANTIOXIDANTS IN THE CENTRAL-NERVOUS-SYSTEM

The nervous system is protected from free-radical-induced oxidative da mage by a number of antioxidants. These include small-molecular-weight substances such as vitamins C and E as well as the Large protein mole cules superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and others. These antioxidants are often localized in specific portions of the cell. The y also show considerable biological interactions with one another. The se factors modulate their antioxidant activity. Oxidative stress has b een implicated in the pathogenesis of some disorders of the brain; hen ce, antioxidants have become attractive therapeutic agents. Among the antioxidants, vitamin E has shown some promise in the treatment of Alz heimer's disease and cardiovascular disease. No investigations have be en conducted to examine whether vitamin E or other nutritional antioxi dants can be used prophylactically to prevent the incidence of degener ation or other pathologic processes in the brain.