Nutrient–Antioxidant Enzyme Interactions in the Human Disease
A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Nutrition and Metabolism".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 April 2026 | Viewed by 29
Special Issue Editor
Interests: vitamin D; oxidative stress; antioxidant defense system; cancer; obesity; diabetes; cytotoxicity; genotoxicity; genotyping, microRNA; apoptosis, DNA damage and repair; gene expression; protein expression
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS), produced under both physiological and inducible conditions, play a dual role in the human body. At low concentrations, ROS are involved in multiple physiological functions, notably acting as redox messengers in the regulation of signaling pathways. However, the excessive production of ROS becomes detrimental due to their high reactivity, causing damage to vital cellular macromolecules such as DNA, lipids, and proteins, and triggering oxidative stress. Oxidative stress—defined as an imbalance between ROS generation and elimination—is a major factor in the pathogenesis of various diseases, including metabolic disorders, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and neurological conditions.
To counteract oxidative stress, the body relies on a complex antioxidant defense system that includes both enzymatic antioxidants and low-molecular-weight non-enzymatic compounds, many of which are derived from dietary nutrients. Antioxidant enzymes—such as catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutases (SODs), peroxiredoxins (PRDXs), and glutathione peroxidases (GPXs)—are high-molecular-weight proteins that act as primary defense agents, capable of neutralizing ROS more rapidly than small molecules. These enzymes work synergistically to mitigate the harmful effects of ROS originating from both endogenous metabolism and environmental factors.
Importantly, the activity and expression of these antioxidant enzymes are closely influenced by nutritional status and the intake of specific nutrients, including selenium, zinc, iron, copper, and certain vitamins (such as vitamins C and E), which serve as essential cofactors or regulators of antioxidant pathways. Thus, nutrition plays a critical role in maintaining oxidative balance and enhancing antioxidant capacity.
In summary, antioxidant enzymes, in close interaction with dietary antioxidants and micronutrients, are essential for sustaining cellular integrity and overall health. This Special Issue welcomes the submission of short communications, original research articles, meta-analyses, and reviews that explore the interplay between antioxidant enzymes, nutrient status, and oxidative stress-related health outcomes.
Dr. Izabela Anna Szymczak-Pajor
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- antioxidant enzymes
- antioxidant enzymes’ response
- antioxidant enzymes’ mechanisms
- antioxidant defense system
- oxidative stress
- reactive oxygen species
- reactive nitrogen species
- enzymatic activity
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