oxidation
Meaning of oxidation: Oxidation is a chemical reaction in which atoms or molecules lose electrons, a process linked in the body to both essential metabolism and cellular damage.
Definition of oxidation
Oxidation is a chemical process in which an atom or molecule loses electrons, often, though not always, during a reaction with oxygen. Familiar everyday examples include the rusting of iron and the browning that appears on a cut apple, both visible results of oxidation occurring over time.
Within the body, oxidation reactions are a normal and necessary part of metabolism, since cells rely on a series of oxidation reactions to convert nutrients into usable energy. These same reactions can also generate byproducts called free radicals, unstable molecules capable of reacting with and damaging nearby cell structures.
Because unchecked oxidation can contribute to cellular damage, the body maintains natural defenses, including certain enzymes and dietary antioxidants, that help limit the buildup of these reactive byproducts, and ongoing oxidative stress, an imbalance between oxidation and these defenses, has been studied for its possible role in aging and various diseases.
Used in a sentence
The research focused on oxidation reactions occurring within damaged tissue.
Good to know
Oxidation is a necessary part of normal metabolism as well as a source of potentially damaging byproducts, so the process itself is neither purely harmful nor purely beneficial but depends on the balance the body maintains.