Oxidative stress and potential interventions to reduce oxidative stress in overweight and obesity.
OBJECTIVE
Obesity may be a state of chronic oxidative stress. Oxidative stress may be the mechanism underlying the development of co-morbidities in obesity. This review provides a summary of the available evidence regarding systemic oxidative stress in young, older and clinical obese populations.


METHODS
Medline was searched for all available articles published between 1975 and 2006 that evaluated oxidative stress biomarkers in resting conditions or following various interventions in overweight and obese humans.


RESULTS
Obesity elevates oxidative stress in young, old and clinical populations as shown by elevations in lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde, hydroperoxides, 4-hydroxynonenal, isoprostanes, conjugated dienes) or protein oxidation (8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine). Lipid peroxidation is associated with several indices of adiposity and a low systemic antioxidant defence (i.e. antioxidant enzymes, tissue dietary antioxidants, glutathione). Oxidative stress may be exacerbated with acute exercise, advancing age or co-existing clinical conditions and may be corrected by improving antioxidant defences through fat volume reduction via surgery, pharmacological agents, exercise and/or dietary modification.


CONCLUSIONS
Oxidative stress is related to chronic disease in obesity, but is reversible with one or more interventions described above.
Vincent
Heather K
HK
The Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA. hvincent@adelphia.net
Innes
Kim E
KE
Vincent
Kevin R
KR
D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000009:adverse effects; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D050177:Overweight / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology*
D000975:Antioxidants; D015415:Biomarkers; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide