SOD

Quantum SOD Benefits

• Systemic enzyme/antioxidant that benefits and protects every cell in the entire body
• Superior anti-aging benefits for the whole body, especially liver
• Enhances immune and neurological function
• Supports clear vision and healthy eyes; the antioxidant of choice for healthy retinal attachment and function
• Healthy cardiovascular system benefits
• Promotes healthy joint structure and function
• Supports the respiratory system and breathing
• Clinically proven to relieve minor muscle soreness after exercise

Research References

Antioxidant inhibitors for cancer therapy. Kong O, Lillehei KO, Med Hypotheses 1998 Nov;51(5):405-9. Department of Surgery, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver 80262, USA.

Built-in cellular defense mechanisms play a major role in a tumor's protection against non-surgical antineoplastic therapies. Of these, the overexpression of antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) may be the most important. Oxygen radicals are highly toxic, and have been implicated in various diseases, including carcinogenesis and aging. They produce a variety of pathological changes through lipid peroxidation and DNA damage. Therefore, treating free-radical-induced diseases with antioxidants has been an accepted therapeutic approach. Ironically, however, the underlying mechanism that most chemotherapeutic agents and ionizing radiation exert on tumor cell kill is not increased antioxidation but rather the production of more free radicals leading to irreversible tissue injury. A small increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) following non-surgical antineoplastic therapies induces the expression of antioxidants such as SOD, but overproduction of ROS, conversely, exhausts the production of SOD and other adaptive antioxidant defenses. Based on these considerations, we hypothesize that the appropriate administration of antioxidant inhibitors and/or free-radicalgenerating compounds may be a useful strategy in the treatment of solid tumors.


Age-Associated Changes of Superoxide Dismutase and Catalase Activities in the Brain.  Tsay H, Wang P, Wang S, Ku H. J Biomed Sci 2000 Nov;7(6):466-474. Institute of Neuroscience, National Yang- Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.

Oxygen free radicals have been proposed to be involved in the process of aging. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase are important for antioxidative defense. Post-transcriptional regulation was involved in modulating the enzymes' activities during aging. Furthermore, the rate of mitochondrial generation of the superoxide anion (O(2)(-).) increased gradually with aging. Taken together, the results suggest that the increase of oxidative potential and the loss of proper antioxidant defense appear to be highly involved in the aging process of the brain.


Oxidative stress in anemia.  Grune T, Sommerburg 0, Siems WG Clin Nephrol 2000 Feb;53(1 Suppl):S18-22. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Charite University Hospital, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany.

The increased formation of reactive oxygen species under hypoxic conditions often appears paradoxical. A prooxidant shift results from changes in cellular metabolism (especially energy metabolism), higher flux rates in catecholamine metabolism and permanent leukocyte activation. These mechanisms of increased free radical production then find themselves opposed by an antioxidant system that is markedly weakened by anemia. The erythrocytes represent an important component of the antioxidant capacity of blood, comprising in particular intracellular enzymes, e.g. superoxide dismutase and catalase, but also the glutathione system. It is thus possible that some complications of uremia are at least partly due to oxidative stress. These include cardiovascular complications, premature biological aging and increased susceptibility to infection. Strategies to strengthen the complex endogenous free radical defenses can thus be predicted to show long-term benefit. In this context the expansion of expansion of EPO therapy may well be a major step in stabilizing free radical metabolism in anemic patients.


Free radicals: important cause of pathologies refer to ageing.  Venarucci D, et al. Panminerva Med 1999 Dec;41(4):335-9. Center of Clinical Chemistry, I.N.R.C.A., Scientific Institute for Hospitalization and Therapy, Fermo, Italy.

Free radical are highly reactive chemical species with an unpaired electron in an atomic or molecular orbital. In biological systems, the most important free radicals are superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide; in the presence of transition metals such as iron, copper and manganese both these free radicals produce hydroxyl radicals. Free radicals attack proteins, nuclei acids and membranes containing large quantities of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Because of their toxicity, the organism has developed ways to deactivate them. The superoxide dismutase enzyme (SOD) catalyzes dismutation of the superoxide radical into hydrogen peroxide and oxygen hydrogen peroxide is in turn reduced to water and oxygen by peroxidase glutathione and catalase enzymes. The production of radicals in the brain is due to catecholamine metabolism such as dopamine and norepinephrine and is increased by the presence of transition metals and by a deficiency of antioxidant agents such as vitamin E. Two main groups of dementia exist in older age: the multi-infarctual dementias, caused by cerebrovascular disorders and the primary degenerative disorders such as Alzheimer, where no vascular disease is evident. Free radicals play an important role in Parkinson's disease, in Alzheimer's disease and in stroke. The value of SOD and CAT activity following the above mentioned degenerative diseases differ among the various studies carried out. In Alzheimer's disease, the value of SOD activity probably increases in the neuropathologically involved areas. In stroke, the SOD value does not vary either in the ischemic area or in the peri-infarctual one during the first 24 hrs after lesion, while the CAT value decreases.


Age-dependent changes of antioxidant activities and markers of free radical damage in human skeletal muscle.  Pansarasa 0, et al. Free Radic Biol Med 1999 Sep;27(5-6):617-22. Department of Physiological and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Pavia, Italy.

This study was conducted in order to provide evidence for the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in human skeletal muscle aging. We used human muscle samples obtained from hospitalized patients in an open study with matched pairs of individuals of different ages. The subjects, ranging in age from 17 to 91 years, were grouped as follows: 17-25, 26-35, 36-45, 46-55, 56-65, 66-75, 76-85, and 86-91 year-old groups. To investigate the relationship between muscle aging and oxidative damage we measured total and Mn-dependent superoxide dismutase (total SOD, MnSOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx), and catalase (CAT) activities; total reduced and oxidized glutathione (GSHtot, GSH, and GSSG) levels; lipid peroxidation (LPO), and protein carbonyl content (PrC). Total SOD activity decreases significantly with age in the 66-75 year-old group, although MnSOD activity increases significantly in the 76-85 year-old group. The activity of the two H2O2 detoxifying enzymes (GSHPx and CAT) did not change with age, as do GSHtot and GSH levels. GSSG levels increased significantly (76-85 and 86-91 year-old groups) with age. We observed a significant increase in LPO levels (66-75 and 76-85 year-old groups), although the PrC content shows a trend of increase without gaining the statistical significance. These results support the idea that ROS play an important role in the human muscle aging process.