Antioxidant enzymes include glutathione peroxidase, catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase, thioredoxin reductase, heme oxygenase, and biliverdin reductase. They prevent damage caused by free radicals and oxidation. Different types of peroxidase enzymes protect different parts of the body. Antioxidant enzymes can be obtained from supplements or foods that contain live enzymes.
The three most common and significant antioxidant enzymes include glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase. The remaining four antioxidant enzymes are glutathione reductase, thioredoxin reductase, heme oxygenase, and biliverdin reductase. Some people confuse antioxidants with antioxidant enzymes. Antioxidants help repair the damage caused by free radicals in the body and the resulting oxidation. However, enzymes attempt to stop the damage before it occurs by triggering chemical reactions that rid the body of free radicals and dangerous oxygen in the form of oxides.
Glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase form the glutathione system of antioxidant enzymes that specifically protects the body against peroxides, especially hydrogen peroxide. These two enzymes are particularly active in the brain, which is the organ most susceptible to oxidation by free radicals. There are four different types of the peroxidase enzyme. Cytosolic glutathione peroxidase (cGPx) primarily helps the brain, thyroid, and heart. Plasma glutathione peroxidase (pGPx) protects blood plasma from peroxides.
Gastrointestinal glutathione peroxidase (GIGPx), which is produced in the kidneys, functions in the liver and gastrointestinal tract. Attacks peroxides generated by food consumption. Phospholipid glutathione peroxidase hydroperoxide (PHGPx) works on fat-bound peroxides in the sexual organs, brain region, and plasma membranes. Glutathione reductase removes oxygen from any oxidized glutathione.
Like the glutathione antioxidant enzymes, catalase also destroys hydrogen peroxide. Thioredoxin reductase is different. Its job is to remove protein disulfides, which are the main triggers of harmful oxidation, from the body. By removing protein disulfides, thioredoxin reductase can reduce the total amount of oxygen in the body. This enzyme is dependent on selenium and cannot function properly unless the body has sufficient reserves of this mineral.
Superoxide dismutase splits free radicals into two materials: oxygen atoms and hydrogen peroxide molecules that can then be destroyed by other antioxidant enzymes. Dismutase enzymes work in one of two areas of the cell: the cytoplasm or the mitochondria. Heme oxygenase reduces heme in the blood to carbon dioxide, iron, and biliverdin. The oxygen within biliverdin is removed by the enzyme biliverdin reductase. This chemical reaction actually produces the antioxidant known as bilirubin.
Oxygen is normally considered desirable. Breathed into the lungs, it is beneficial. However, at the cellular level, oxygen causes cells to break down, age, and die. Antioxidant enzymes seek to stop that cycle of destruction.
People often get antioxidant enzymes from supplements or foods that contain live enzymes. Foods that contain live antioxidant enzymes include algae, yeast, and sprouts. Also, raw vegetables, barley grass and wheat grass contain high levels of antioxidant enzymes.
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