Redox Signaling

Redox signaling envolves free radicals including reactive oxygen species (ROS), and other electronically-activated species, that act as messengers in biological systems. Even though the process of Redox Signaling has been known for years the importance of it for human life has been coming to be understood only recently, with books and journals dedicated to the subject... mostly in just the past 5 years.
The purpose of this site is awareness from the layman's perspective- to help us be aware of the importance of Redox Signaling and where Oxidative Signaling fits in.

Reactive Oxide Species and Antioxidants

Redox deals with BOTH Reduction AND Oxidation but this page deals mainly with the latter... in particular Reactive Oxide Species. Let's set perspective as to what most people associate, or think of, during discussion of Reactive Oxide Species, or ROS. What we have heard over the past 30, or so, years are mostly concerns that can foretold by the definition of ROS- reactive molecules that contain an unstable form of oxygen. Reactive meaning that these reactive molecules will attack organic material and break it down. Thus the concept of free radicals and anti-oxidants and the relation to the aging process.
What we've heard is that Free Radicals=Aging=Bad.
The net result has been the proliferation of antioxidants! Pills, juices, Acai berry juice, Pomegranate juice, and so on and so on... A huge market has been built around this with specialty products such as Noni, Monavie, Xango, and some antioxidant juices sold in Costco and supermarkets.
Return to top

Oxidative Alternatives

What is interesting about this is that there are alternative health remedies where people actually do the opposite of what antioxidants are all about... they ingest ROS, in particular dilute food grade hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and many claim health benefit. This concept will initially take one aback with thoughts of using leeches for blood letting, but way more dangerous. Although these people take very dilute concentrations of the food grade hydrogen peroxide (web search for One Minute Cure) this concept just doesn't set well with most people. And anyone considering doing this one minute cure, or similar, should really consider what they are doing- ingesting ROS.

Is there any basis for these wellness claims? They talk about the concept of oxygenating the body as a causal effect and how disease doesn't live in an oxygenated environment but anyone with a science background would discount this theory... the actual elevation of blood oxygen via ingesting dilute H2O2 would be negligible. And higher concentrations of peroxide is literally poison.
Return to top

Oxidative/Redox Signaling

This is where the science of redox signaling come front and center. Redox deals with BOTH Reduction AND Oxidation. Science has been realizing, just in the past 5-10 years, that the two together are actually produced naturally within the body and are actually vital to human health. The science of redox signaling is amazing to say the least. The concept of balance between the reductants and oxidants is a key factor!
Perhaps the best introduction to redox signaling is the book "The Science of Healing Revealed, New Insights into Redox Signaling" by Gary Samuelson, PHD who writes:

"The emerging field of redox signaling deals with biological redox messengers that are absolutely fundamental to the healing process".

Anyone interested in learning more about the intriguing, and critical, field of balanced Redox can go to this redox signaling molecule resource.

Return to top

---