Ascorbate: The Most Effective Antioxidant in Human Blood Plasma

Abstract

Living is like getting irradiated. This is because we are constantly exposed to oxidants such as Superoxide radicals, hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radicals, and singlet oxygen. These reactive oxygen species are generated during normal oxidative metabolism, for example by spontaneous autoxidation of electron transport carriers in mitochondria, or as a result of the action of oxidases.¹ One of these oxidases, the NADPH oxidase of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) (primarily neutrophils and eosinophils), is pivotal to the body’s defense against pathogenic microorganisms. The immediate product of the stimulus-induced activation of the NADPH oxidase of PMNs is Superoxide anion, whereas subsequent reactions form further oxidants including hydrogen peroxide, hypochlorite, and chloramines.^2,3 These oxidants not only kill the invading microorganisms, but also can cause considerable oxidative damage to the host himself. Other sources of oxidants to which we are constantly exposed include our diet, polluted air (particularly from smoking), natural radio active gases,e.g. radon leaching from soils, and some drugs.^4,5