6.OptimizedAntioxidant.pptVIP

* * If we think of a cell which is in the thigh muscle of a long distance runner. Inside the cell is something called a mitochondria which acts a bit like a factory whos sole role is to make energy. The raw materials this small factory uses is fuel which is stored in the cell in the form of glucose or glycogen and oxygen which it obtains from the small blood vessels which run alongside the cell. Oxygen is carried around the body to the small cell from the lungs by the blood vessels the mitochondria factory burns the glucose wit the oxygen to release energy which is needed to make the muscle contract and allows the runner to keep moving, and produces some waste materials which are carbon dioxide and water which are carried away by the blood and exhaled from the mouth. This process can continue quite happily when the athlete is walking around but when the athlete starts to run the demand for energy increases so the mitochondria factory has to make energy faster to meet his requirements * . As the athlete runs faster or longer, oxygen starts to become in short supply - the blood simply cant get the oxygen to the cell fast enough to keep up with demand. At this point the factory is in trouble because the body is still demanding energy, so like all factories it has to be be flexible and starts to use an alternative process - it makes energy by burning the fuel without oxygen. Whilst this satisfies the bodies needs for energy it produces more hazardous waste products and if the demand continues for an extended period of time these waste products become more hazardous and can result in the production of free radicals or oxidants * These free radicals are highly charged particals and can move around the cell, if they hit the cell wall they can punch a hole in the wall by oxidizing the lipid which is a key component. When the cell walls become damaged the function of the cell is impaired. * * * * So free radicals, however they are produced, are a problem because they ca