title: Obesity-associated oxidative stress: strategies finalized to improve redox state.
abstract: Obesity represents a major risk factor for a plethora of severe diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and cancer. It is often accompanied by an increased risk of mortality and, in the case of non-fatal health problems, the quality of life is impaired because of associated conditions, including sleep apnea, respiratory problems, osteoarthritis, and infertility. Recent evidence suggests that oxidative stress may be the mechanistic link between obesity and related complications. In obese patients, antioxidant defenses are lower than normal weight counterparts and their levels inversely correlate with central adiposity; obesity is also characterized by enhanced levels of reactive oxygen or nitrogen species. Inadequacy of antioxidant defenses probably relies on different factors: obese individuals may have a lower intake of antioxidant- and phytochemical-rich foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and legumes; otherwise, consumption of antioxidant nutrients is normal, but obese individuals may have an increased utilization of these molecules, likewise to that reported in diabetic patients and smokers. Also inadequate physical activity may account for a decreased antioxidant state. In this review, we describe current concepts in the meaning of obesity as a state of chronic oxidative stress and the potential interventions to improve redox balance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy. savini@uniroma2.it.
authors.forename: Isabella
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Savini
authors.forename: Maria Valeria
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Catani
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Evangelista
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gasperi
authors.forename: Luciana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Avigliano
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D004194:Disease / Q000145:classification / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species