Oxidation-Reduction Reactions Chemistry Worksheet Page 6
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Chapter 6
Oxidation-Reduction Reactions
Oxidizing Agents and Aging
S
T
PECIAL
OPIC 6.1
In some of the normal chemical reactions that take place in
the human body, strong oxidizing agents, such as hydrogen
peroxide, are formed. These highly reactive substances
cause chemical changes in cell DNA that can be damaging
unless the changes are reversed. Fortunately, in healthy cells,
normal repair reactions occur that convert the altered DNA
back to its normal form
Oxidizing agents
(such as H
O
)
2
2
Normal DNA
Altered DNA
Normal repair
The repair mechanisms are thought to slow down with
age. Some medical researchers believe that this slowing down
Five portions of fruits and vegetables per day have enough
of DNA repair is connected to certain diseases associated
of the antioxidants vitamin C and vitamin E to mitigate
with aging, such as cancer, heart disease, cataracts, and brain
some of the problems of aging.
dysfunction.
Oxidizing agents
(such as H
O
)
2
2
Normal DNA
Altered DNA
Normal repair
slowed with aging
Substances called antioxidants that are found in food
react with oxidizing agents (such as hydrogen peroxide) and
thus remove them from our system. This is believed to slow
the alteration of DNA, so the slower rate of normal repair
can balance it.
Fewer
oxidizing agents
Normal DNA
Altered DNA
Normal repair
slowed with aging
Vitamins C and E are antioxidants, and foods that
contain relatively high amounts of them are considered
important in slowing some of the medical problems that
come from aging. Five servings of fruits and vegetables per
day are thought to supply enough antioxidants to provide
reasonable protection from the damage done by oxidizing
agents.
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