Oxidative stress & inflammation
The pace of modern life has increased the spread of some of the major diseases of civilisation, such as prostatic hyperplasia, arteriosclerosis, arthritis, rheumatism, inflammatory diseases and diabetes. There is one thing all these diseases have in common: they are all linked to oxidative stress and inflammation. Environmental factors such as radiation, air pollution, psychological stress, poor nutrition and smoking all lead to oxidative stress and increase the concentration of free radicals in our bodies. Free radicals are oxygenic molecules that are unstable because they are missing an electron in their chemical structure.
Because these molecules are incomplete, they seek to obtain the electron they need in order to gain stability. They make aggressive attempts to capture these electrons from other complete molecules in their environment, such as cell membranes or DNA. This process is known as oxidation. When these oxidation processes exceed a certain level, this is known as oxidative stress. The body fights this process with inflammation. If inflammation becomes chronic, it can trigger serious diseases or exacerbate existing diseases.
Novelpharm contributes with its nutritional supplements and care products to maintain the healthy condition of the body. A long-term goal of Novelpharm is also to contribute through the research of active ingredients.
Too many free radicals in the body attack important structures in our cells. When the body’s own structures change as a result of oxidation, the immune system perceives these as harmful. Eventually this triggers an inflammatory cascade. Many serious diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatism, arteriosclerosis, arthritis and diabetes are caused by inflammation.The role of antioxidants
The effects that free radicals have on cells is comparable with the corrosion of iron, which rusts when it comes into contact with excessive levels of oxygen. Antioxidants can break the chain reactions triggered by too many free radicals in the body. Antioxidants can therefore be thought of as a sort of rust protection for the body.
Before the free radicals capture an electron from the cell membrane or a protein in order to gain stability, they receive an electron from the antioxidant. In this way, free radicals are neutralised and transformed into stable, harmless metabolic products. Thus antioxidants are a key element in healing serious, chronic inflammatory diseases.
Antioxidants are able to slow down the oxidation process in other substances or prevent these from occurring entirely. Natural antioxidants include certain vitamins, minerals and so-called secondary phytochemicals (such as carotenoids, polyphenols and flavonoids, among others), which can be found in the tea plant, fruits and vegetables, herbs, seeds and several other plants.
