FREE-RADICALS, ATHEROSCLEROSIS, AGING, AND RELATED DYSMETABOLIC PATHOLOGIES - PATHOLOGICAL AND CLINICAL ASPECTS

An excess of free-radical production has been linked to many diseases and to the ageing process, Oxidant by-products of normal metabolism ca n cause extensive damage to DNA, protein and lipid, Exposure to ultrav iolet light, cigarette smoke and other environmental pollutants may al so increase the free radical burden, The accumulation of unrepaired ox idative damage products is likely to be a major factor in cellular age ing, Many repair processes are available to the cell, including enzyme and structural defences, The large group of natural antioxidants is a lso part of a protective mechanism, High consumption of fruit and vege tables in the diet is associated with a lowered risk of degenerative d iseases, At present, however, there are few data to support the routin e use of exogenous antioxidants to prevent and treat these diseases.