Oxidations are chemical reactions involving the consumption of oxygen. In the body, they are especially crucial in the context of energy production during glycolysis. In endogenous oxidations, oxidative waste is produced, which is associated with aging processes and various diseases.
What is oxidation?
Oxidations are chemical reactions involving the consumption of oxygen. In the body, they are especially crucial in the context of energy production during glycolysis. The term oxidation was coined by chemist Antoine Laurent de Lavoisier. He used the term to describe the union of elements or chemical compounds with oxygen. Later, the term was extended to dehydrogenation reactions, in which compounds are deprived of a hydrogen atom. Dehydrogenation in particular is an important process in biochemistry. In biochemical processes, for example, hydrogen atoms are often removed from organic compounds by coenzymes such as NAD, NADP, or FAD. Oxidation in biochemistry is ultimately known as an electron transfer reaction in which a reducing agent donates electrons to an oxidizing agent. The reducing agent is thus “oxidized.” In the human body, oxidations are basically associated with reduction reactions. This principle is described in the context of the redox reaction. Reductions and oxidations are thus always to be understood only as partial reactions of the common redox reaction. The redox reaction thus corresponds to a combination of oxidation and reduction, which transfers electrons from the reducing agent to the oxidizing agent. In the narrow sense, any chemical reaction involving the consumption of oxygen is considered a biochemical oxidation. In the broader sense, oxidation is any biochemical reaction involving electron transfer.
Function and task
Oxidation corresponds to the donation of electrons. Reduction is the acceptance of the donated electrons. Together, these processes are called redox reactions and form the basis of every type of energy production. Oxidation thus releases the energy that is absorbed in reduction. Glucose is an easily stored energy source and also an important building block for cells. Glucose molecules form amino acids and other vital compounds. The term glycolysis is used in biochemistry to describe the oxidation of carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are broken down in the body into their individual building blocks, i.e. into glucose and also fructose molecules. Within cells, fructose is relatively quickly converted to glucose. In the cells, glucose of the molecular formula C6H12O6 is used to produce energy with the consumption of oxygen of the molecular formula O2, producing carbon dioxide of the molecular formula CO2 and water of the formula H2O. This oxidation of the glucose molecule thus adds oxygen and removes hydrogen. The goal of every oxidation of this kind is to obtain the energy supplier ATP. For this purpose, the oxidation described takes place in the cytoplasm, in the mitochondrial plasma and in the mitochondrial membrane. In many contexts, oxidation is referred to as the basis for life, as it guarantees the production of endogenous energy. Within the mitochondria, a so-called oxidation chain takes place, which is all-important for human metabolism, because all life is energy. Living beings engage in metabolism to generate energy and thus to ensure survival. However, oxidations within the mitochondria produce not only the reaction product energy, but also oxidation waste. This waste corresponds to chemically active compounds known as free radicals, which are kept in check by the body through enzymes.
Diseases and ailments
Oxidation, in the sense of a breakdown of energy-rich compounds to energy-poor compounds, occurs continuously in the human body under energy production. In this context, oxidation serves to generate energy and takes place in the mitochondria, which are also referred to as the small power plants of the cells. Energy-rich compounds produced by the body are stored in the body as ATP after this type of oxidation. The energy carrier for oxidation in this process is food, for the conversion of which oxygen is required. This type of oxidation produces aggressive radicals. The body normally intercepts and neutralizes these radicals by means of protective mechanisms. One of the most important protective mechanisms in this context is the activity of non-enzymatic antioxidants.Radicals would attack human tissues without these substances and cause permanent damage especially to mitochondria. High physical and mental stress increase metabolism and oxygen consumption, which leads to increased radical formation. The same is true for inflammation in the body or exposure to external factors such as UV radiation, radioactive rays and altitude radiation or environmental toxins and cigarette smoke. Protective antioxidants such as vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E and carotenoids or selenium are no longer able to counteract the harmful effects of radical oxidation when exposed to increased levels of radicals. This scenario is associated with both natural aging and pathological processes, such as the development of cancer. Thus, malnutrition, toxic consumption, radiation exposure, extensive exercise, mental stress, and acute as well as chronic illnesses create more free radicals than the body can handle. Free radicals have either one electron too many or too few. To compensate, they try to take electrons from other molecules, which can lead to oxidation of endogenous components such as lipids within the membrane. Free radicals can cause mutations to nuclear DNA and mitochondrial DNA. In addition to cancer and the aging process, they have been linked as a causative factor to atherosclerosis, diabetes, rheumatism, MS, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and immune deficiency or cataracts and hypertension. Free radicals cross-link [protein]]s, sugar–proteins and other basic substance components together, making it difficult for acidic metabolic waste to be removed. The environment becomes increasingly favorable for pathogens as connective tissue, in particular, “acidifies.”
