Re: Detoxifying acetaldahyde
Oxygen is a mainstay in the metabolism of most lifeforms on this planet. But processes such as combustion (e.g. forest fires) and oxidation (e.g. rusting) demonstrate that oxygen may have a destructive aspect as well. Reactive oxygen species in the body are unstable molecular configurations of oxygen containing unpaired valence shell electrons that make them highly reactive with the surrounding cellular environment.
Oxidative stress resulting from excess reactive oxygen species in the body can damage DNA, RNA, lipids, and proteins. Since oxidative stress is implicated in the pathogenesis of numerous different diseases, supplementation with antioxidants and free radical scavengers is an attempt to counteract these effects. But are the elevated levels of reactive oxygen species a cause, an effect, or a parallel consequence of the disease process?
Acetaldehyde has been well studied in relation to its role in alcohol consumption. Its presence in the body can increase the concentrations of reactive oxygen species:
See Novitskiy et al.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16899047
Consider the effect of chronic daily exposure to acetaldehyde being emitted by budding yeast (Candida Albicans) metabolism. Although the body has numerous mechanisms for keeping reactive oxygen species in check (glutathione, ascorbate, vitamin E, catalase, superoxide dismutase, etc.), these may be insufficient if there is ongoing exposure at elevated levels.
This means that the potential exists for extensive downstream damage not only from acetaldehyde itself, but also from the reactive oxygen species that it spawns. Acetaldehyde is so reactive that it is rarely found in isolation but it does leave recognizable footprints in the body's biochemical profile.