Oxidative Stress: A Biomarker for Animal Health and Production: A Review

Oxidative stress occurs when there is an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants in body. Body produces free radicals during metabolic processes which are neutralized by antioxidants. However, too many free radicals produced can interfere with cell regeneration and repair, which over time can lead to accelerated aging and the development of certain diseases. Oxidative stress is defined as an imbalance between increased sources of oxidation and decreased or defective antioxidant mechanisms. This definition lends itself to the notion that a special type of mechanism exists and that deviations from this can affect the homeostasis and potentially cause or worsen disease. Oxidative stress plays an important role in the development of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. Long-term exposure to high levels of pro-oxidant factors can lead to structural defects at the mitochondrial DNA level and functional changes in several enzymes and cellular structures leading to aberrations in gene expression. As such, many attempts has been made to restore this “balance” by providing antioxidants to animals and human beings to prevent the ill effects of these free radicles produced by the body tissues. Oxidative stress is a disease driver or an epiphenomenon; which worsen the condition in body and the use of antioxidants treatment may prevent some degree of oxidative stress from occurring, which could play an important role in controlling inflammation and cellular adaptive responses.