What is superoxide dismutase?

Sueproxide dismutase (SOD) is a natural antioxidant enzyme found in the body and is present in almost all living cells.

To help you understand how superoxide dismutase works in your body it will be helpful to understand free radicals and oxidative stress.

A free radical is a highly reactive atom that has an unpaired election.  This unpaired electron will then look for a pair that will then destroy other cells in the process.

This will lead to the cells being damaged and if left unchecked can create increased stress on a cellular level in the human body. 

Read here about other antioxidant enzymes.

How does superoxide dismutase work?

Superoxide dismutase (SOD) breaks down the reactive superoxide radical to oxygen and hydrogen peroxide.

 

What are some of the proposed benefits of superoxide dismutase?

Some of the proposed benefits of SOD include rebuilding tissue, extending the length of life, reducing inflammation, and cancer.

The proposed benefits are based off the principles of the mechanism of SOD and not through major clinical trials that have observed this.

However, it is not unreasonable based off the mechanism of SOD to conclude this is how SOD might work.

Here are more clinical research studies with polyphenols

 

Are there natural ways to activate Superoxide dismutase?

One way that has been suggested to increase SOD expression is through the use of polyphenol rich foods.  The proposed mechanism is that these polyphenols will activate Nrf2 that will then increase the expression of superoxide dismutase.

 

Are there different forms of SOD?

Yes, there are three different types called superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) located in the cytoplasm of a cell, superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) in the mitochondria of the cell, and superoxide dismutase 3 (SOD) located outside a cell.

 

Jeremy Johnson, PharmD, PhD


Categories: Antioxidant, Detoxification, Dietary Supplements, Inflammation