Scientists from Emory University have found that using antioxidants, including as a nutritional health supplement, may aid in the prevention of some age-related diseases by lowering the amount of oxidized cysteine, a biomarker for the diseases.
Cysteine, which is an amino acid that either comes from animal proteins or the bodys own production using homocysteine, was found to reduce the inflammation caused when the bodys metabolic reactions are disrupted.
The reactions, called oxidative stress, are linked to heart disease, diabetes and some neurodegenerative diseases and work by spiking the bodys immune system, the researchers found.
By reducing the amount of the cysteine affected by the oxidative stress, they were able to limit the inflammation associated with sepsis, a mechanism which is similar to age-related diseases and lung injury.
A further study on humans found that inflammation associated with those diseases was reduced when a diet low in the amino acid was introduced, indicating the potential for cysteine regulation as a disease therapy, said Dr. Dean P. Jones.