Review Article

Effect of Supplementation with Antioxidants on the Quality of Bovine Milk and Meat Production

Table 1

Antioxidant systems found in mammalian cells [6].

Component (location in cell)Nutrients involvedFunction

Superoxide dismutase (cytosol)Cu and ZnAn enzyme that converts superoxide to hydrogen peroxide
Superoxide dismutase (mitochondria)Mn and ZnAn enzyme that converts superoxide to hydrogen peroxide
CeruloplasminCuAn antioxidant protein may prevent copper from participating in oxidation reactions
Glutathione peroxidase (cytosol)SeAn enzyme that converts hydrogen peroxide to water
Catalase (cytosol)FeAn enzyme (primarily in liver) that converts hydrogen peroxide to water
-Tocopherol (membranes)Vitamin EBreaks fatty acid peroxidation chain reactions
β-Carotene (membranes)Vitamin APrevents initiation of fatty acid peroxidation chain reactions