Dynamics of antioxidant action of vitamin E.
Vitamin E is the major lipophilic, radical-scavenging antioxidant in vivo and protects humans from the oxidative stress mediated by active oxygen and nitrogen species. The mechanisms of the inhibition of oxidation by vitamin E in vitro are now fairly well understood, but the dynamics of antioxidant action of vitamin E in vivo have not been well elucidated yet, primarily because of the inherent heterogeneity of biological systems. In this Account, the factors which determine the antioxidant capacity of vitamin E are discussed, and the importance of its localization and mobility in the membranes and lipoproteins is emphasized.
Niki
Etsuo
E
Human Stress Signal Research Center, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Ikeda, Osaka 563-8577, Japan. etsuo-niki@aist.go.jp
Noguchi
Noriko
N
D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008670:Metals / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000975:Antioxidants; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D005609:Free Radicals; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D008670:Metals; D014810:Vitamin E