ARTICLE 90 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE December 2024 Oxidative stress occurs when there's an imbalance between the production of ROS and the body's ability to counteract their harmful effects with antioxidants. This imbalance can result from either an overproduction of ROS or a depleted antioxidant defense system. SOURCES OF REACTIVE OXYGEN SPECIES (ROS) To understand the origins of ROS, we need to look at the cellular level. Energy production, a fundamental process for all living organisms, primarily occurs in tiny cellular structures called mitochondria. Depending on the cell type and its energy needs, there can be hundreds or even thousands of mitochondria per cell. During energy production, mitochondria naturally generate ROS as by-products. Under normal conditions, cells have defense mechanisms to neutralize these ROS. However, when ROS production exceeds the capacity of these defenses, it can lead to damage and induce a chain reaction of creating new reactive species (so called free radicals). This is what we call oxidative stress. TRIGGERS OF OXIDATIVE STRESS Several factors can trigger oxidative stress, such as pollution, sun radiation, dietary toxins, intense physical activity, metabolic disorders, infections, inflammations, vaccinations, medications, aging, thermal stress and more. For each animal species the triggers can be different. CONSEQUENCES OF OXIDATIVE STRESS Oxidative stress can have detrimental effects on cellular structures and functions. Damage to mitochondria disrupts energy production. Damaged lipids can destabilize cell membranes, impairing their integrity and functionality. Protein oxidation can lead to misfolding and aggregation, impairing their normal function, while DNA damage can result in mutations and genomic instability. Furthermore, cellular damage can activate the immune system, leading to chronic inflammation. Excessive oxidative stress can induce both controlled and uncontrolled cell death, contributing to a state of cellular chaos and the development of various diseases. ROLE OF ANTIOXIDANTS IN CELLS To protect against the harmful effects of free radicals, cells rely on a network of both enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants. Enzymatic antioxidants, such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase, are located in the mitochondria and play a key role in converting ROS into water and oxygen. Non-enzymatic antioxidants, such as vitamins C and E, act as free radical scavengers in the cytoplasm and cell membrane. Together, these primary and secondary antioxidants form the antioxidant defense system. SUPPORTING THE ANTIOXIDANT DEFENSE SYSTEM Today, secondary antioxidants are widely incorpoBALANCING ACT: Tackle oxidative stress with dried melon juice rich in superoxide dismutase and selenium-enriched yeast Monika Leukert Product Manager for the Antioxidative Solutions & Yeast Derivatives Lallemand Animal Nutrition
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