Superoxide Dismutases (SOD)

SOD outcompetes damaging reactions of superoxide, thus protecting the cell from superoxide toxicity. In biological systems, this means its main reactions are with itself (dismutation) or with another biological radical such as nitric oxide (NO) or a metal. SOD is used in cosmetic products to reduce free radical damage to skin, for example to reduce fibrosis following radiation for breast cancer. Studies of this kind must be regarded as tentative, however, as there were not adequate controls in the study including a lack of randomization, double-blinding, or placebo. SOD has proved to be highly effective in treatment of colonic inflammation in experimental colitis. Treatment with SOD decreases reactive oxygen species generation and oxidative stress and, thus, inhibits endothelial activation and indicate that modulation of factors that govern adhesion molecule expression and leukocyte-endothelial interactions.