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. 1991;69(21):965–968. doi: 10.1007/BF01645140

Role of reactive oxygen species in biological processes

H Sies 1
PMCID: PMC7095951  PMID: 1798292

Summary

The steady-state formation of prooxidants in cells and organs is balanced by a similar rate of their consumption by antioxidants that are enzymatic and/or nonenzymatic. “Oxidative stress” results from imbalance in this prooxidantantioxidant equilibrium in favor of the prooxidants. A number of diseases are associated with oxidative stress, being the basis of a potential antioxidant therapy. However, current evidence in clinical research does not show unequivocal distinction between causal or associative relationships of prooxidants to the disease process.

Key words: Oxidative stress, Oxidants, Antioxi-dants, Nitric oxide, Free radicals

Abbreviations

ARDS

adult respiratory distress syndrome

EDRF

endothelium-derived relaxing factor

MOF

multi-or-gan failure

Footnotes

Manuscripts published in this issue were the matter of a Symposium held at the University of Ulm, April 24–27, 1991

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