- Unstable radicals result when an atom has an unpaired electron.
- Highly reactive ones can damage many cell components including enzymes.
- This type of cellular damage has been implicated in the development of some types of cancer, heart disease and premature ageing.
- Some vitamins, including vitamin C, beta-carotene and vitamin E, can protect against radical damage. They provide hydrogen atoms that stabalise the radical pairing up with its unpaired electron.
Comments
No comments have yet been made