Abstract
Free radicals, both externally generated and created internally by either normal or aberrant metabolism, play an important role in the etiology of many diseases. In specific disease conditions radicals may lead to tissue, cell or protein injury or the alteration of the genetic material. Thus, radicals can alter DNA, which in turn can lead to aberrant gene products and ultimately to cancer. In addition, radicals and oxidative processes can modify the lipoproteins in the blood with the effect of leading to the formation of foam cells in the arteries, a process, which unless controlled or stopped, will ultimately lead to atherosclerosis. Oxidative modification of the lens proteins mediated by light leads to cataract, while oxidative damage of the photoreceptors in the macula is one factor which is thought to cause the development of age-related macular degeneration.
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Schalch, W., Weber, P. (1994). Vitamins and Carotinoids — A Promising Approach to Reducing the Risk of Coronary Heart Disease, Cancer and Eye Diseases. In: Armstrong, D. (eds) Free Radicals in Diagnostic Medicine. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 366. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-1833-4_24
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