What are the factors influencing levels of oxidative damage in organisms?

Oxidative damage is detected by the accumulation of injury markers in biological issues such as lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation and nucleic acid damage where ROS (Reactive oxygen species) can alter cellular function by disrupting signalling cascades through activation/inhibition of key enzymes such as protein kinases and phosphatases. Essentially, oxidative damage causes damage to the cell, whether it be its surface or internally its DNA.


Free radicals floating in the blood, and the lack of antioxidants; this induces oxidative stress. Nutrition plays an important role in determining the cellular antioxidative defense mechanism.