Reactive oxygen species
What it is
Reactive oxygen species are reactive oxygen-containing molecules involved in cellular chemistry.
What it does
Excess accumulation can damage cellular material, while regulated reactive signaling has normal roles.
Research context and ingredient forms
The term covers a class of molecules rather than one substance that can be assessed with a single universal score.
Using this information
When reading a study, identify the molecule or assay. Do not assume that every antioxidant acts on every reactive species in the same way.
Scientific Research & References
- NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms: reactive oxygen species
National Cancer Institute
Limitations: Terminology support only; not evidence of benefit for a particular intervention.
Source assessment recorded.
- Antioxidant Supplements: What You Need To Know
NCCIH, NIH
Limitations: Supports the bounded definition or statement mapped to it. This source alone does not establish a food- or product-specific clinical benefit.
Source assessment recorded.
- Guidelines for measuring reactive oxygen species and oxidative damage in cells and in vivo
Michael P. Murphy, Hülya Bayir, Vsevolod Belousov, Christopher J. Chang, Kelvin J. A. Davies, Michael J. Davies, Tobias P. Dick, Toren Finkel, Henry J. Forman, Yvonne Janssen-Heininger, David Gems, Valerian E. Kagan, Balaraman Kalyanaraman, Nils-Göran Larsson, Ginger L. Milne, Thomas Nyström, Henrik E. Poulsen, Rafael Radi, Holly Van Remmen, Paul T. Schumacker, Paul J. Thornalley, Shinya Toyokuni, Christine C. Winterbourn, Huiyong Yin, Barry Halliwell
2022 · Nature Metabolism · Original expert consensus statement on measurement methods
Limitations: Methods and terminology guidance. Does not establish a food or supplement treatment benefit.
Source assessment recorded.
Related dictionary entries
Products containing it
No label-specific product relationship has been reviewed for this entry.