Antioxidantes: perspectiva actual para la salud humana

Resumen

The aim of this paper is to highlight data related to health and antioxidants. According to the literature, these substances may participate to neutralize the excess of free radicals in oxidation mechanisms. The production of free radicals, a usual biological phenomenon, is regulated by different metabolic routes, since they are the fi rst line of defense in the human body. Even though they are important in order to maintain a healthy body, the imbalance between endogenous antioxidants and free radicals, known as oxidative stress, is associated with different diseases and human aging. This paper also presents some sources of exogenous antioxidants, focusing on fruits and other vegetables and presents data from a local exploratory study about antioxidants consumption.