Page "Antioxidant" Paragraph 13

Antioxidants are classified into two broad divisions, depending on whether they are soluble in water ( hydrophilic ) or in lipids ( hydrophobic ).

In general, water-soluble antioxidants react with oxidants in the cell cytosol and the blood plasma, while lipid-soluble antioxidants protect cell membranes from lipid peroxidation.

These compounds may be synthesized in the body or obtained from the diet.

The different antioxidants are present at a wide range of concentrations in body fluids and tissues, with some such as glutathione or ubiquinone mostly present within cells, while others such as uric acid are more evenly distributed ( see table below ).

Some antioxidants are only found in a few organisms and these compounds can be important in pathogens and can be virulence factors.