Dietary Antioxidant and Oxidative Stress: Interaction between Vitamins and Genetics

Oxidative stress promotes DNA damage and may also contribute to the development of chronic disease, including type 2 diabetes (T2DM), neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Oxidative stress is a result of an imbalance between the production and accumulation of reactive species and the organisms capacity to manage those using endogenous and exogenous antioxidants. Exogenous antioxidants obtained from the diet, mainly vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, selenium and carotenoids have an important role in reducing oxidative stress and also DNA damage. Endogenous antioxidants include the enzymes catalase, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase. Nutrigenetics is a field of science that examines the interactions between diet and genetic variation. Individual genetic variation can affect proteins involved in the uptake, utilization and metabolism of dietary antioxidants. It may alter their serum levels and subsequent contribution to modulation of oxidative stress. The elucidation of interaction between genetic variations and antioxidant status may have important implications for public health through the identification of individuals and populations who could benefit from dietary intervention and supplementation with antioxidants. A greater understanding of which antioxidants could promote more protection and increase DNA repair may be important as a strategy to avoid the earlier development of chronic diseases.