Inflammation and Oxidative Stress: Dietary Modulation and Nutraceutical

Dear Colleagues,

Oxidative stress has received increasing attention in relation to its nature, onset, reliable measurement, and possibilities for prevention. Cells are exposed to a large variety of free radicals and reactive molecules (RONS) derived from oxygen (ROS) and nitrogen species (NO) from both exogenous and endogenous sources: the latter make up the majority, while mitochondria are the main source of their formation. At an appropriate concentration, RONS are known to act as important signaling molecules. However, when their levels overwhelm the cellular antioxidant defense system, the oxidative stress phenomenon occurs, implicated in the damage of cellular lipids, proteins, and DNA.

The role of free radicals, generated in the biological milieu and propagated through a cascade of reactions, has been well recognized in the pathogenesis of many diseases, including a variety of inflammatory, cancerous and degenerative pathologies, while ROS also play a key role in physiological processes such as aging.

The most significant challenges that investigators face in their attempt to directly assess oxidant levels in vivo are both the low concentration of RONS present and the extremely transient nature of these species. Much progress has been made in the direct detection, characterization, and quantification of RONS using enzymatic measures, HPLC and mass spectroscopy. Moreover, electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy detects free radicals and paramagnetic molecules and plays a major role in the assessment of most of the oxidants characterized by very short half-lives (nanoseconds to microseconds), usually by using stabilizing molecules called spin-traps/probes. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) metabolomics show evidence for their role in mitochondrial oxidative stress as well.

There is a growing amount of evidence regarding the interplay between oxidative stress, inflammation and nutrition and it is the key for determining wellness and/or different states in particular environments such as hypoxia, hyperoxia, with or without external stimuli (exercise, training), and pathological disease.

This Special Issue will critically update the current knowledge on dietary modulation, focusing on nutraceuticals in particular, in the short and long term, in relation to oxidative stress and inflammatory conditions in healthy subjects in specific environments and will highlight possible preventive strategies for pathological states.

Prof. Dr. Maristella Gussoni
Prof. Dr. Simona Mrakic-Sposta
Guest Editors

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• oxidative stress
• electron paramagnetic resonance
• biomarkers
• supplementation
• hypoxia and hyperoxia
• food analysis
• NMR
• exercise and training
• human nutrition
• pathophysiological states