The role of oxidative stress in the development of obesity and obesity-related metabolic disorders

• Main Authors: Čolak Emina, Pap Dragana
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Society of Medical Biochemists of Serbia, Belgrade 2021-01-01
• Series: Journal of Medical Biochemistry
• Subjects: adipokines; obesity; oxidative stress; metabolic disorders; inflammation
• Online Access: https://scindeks-clanci.ceon.rs/data/pdf/1452-8258/2021/1452-82582101001Q.pdf

Obesity is a serious medical condition, defined as excessive accumulation of fat. Abdominal fat is recognized as the major risk for obesity related diseases such as: hypertension, dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes mellitus, coronary heart disease, stroke, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease etc. Fat accumulation is also related to pro-oxidant and pro-inflammatory states. Recently published articles suggest that oxidative stress may be a link between obesity and related complications. Adiposity leads to increased oxidative stress via several multiple biochemical processes such as superoxide generation through the action of NADPH oxidase, glyceraldehyde auto-oxidation, oxidative phosphorylation, protein kinase C (PKC) activation, and polyol and hexosamine pathways. On the other hand, oxidative stress plays a causative role in the development of obesity, by stimulating the deposition of adipose tissue, including preadipocyte proliferation, adipocyte differentiation and growth. Exercise-induced weight loss can improve the redox state by modulating both oxidative stress and antioxidant promoters, which reduce endothelial dysfunction and inflammation.