[Oxidative stress and vitamins].

The importance of specific determination of key molecules involved in radical reaction is discussed in the evaluation of oxidative stress in animal tissues. As an effective index of oxidative stress, the concentration of lipid hydroperoxides, which is determined by a specific and sensitive method developed by the authors, is discussed firstly. The efficiency of the indicator is demonstrated by several results that it increases in tissues of aged, vitamin C-deficient, vitamin E-deficient, iron-overloaded, or streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. The other indicator, tissue vitamin C, which is also determined by a specific and sensitive method developed by the authors, is discussed. Based on the method, the profile of vitamin C decrease in tissues of ODS rats, which cannot synthesize the vitamin inherently, was determined and the in vivo interaction between vitamin C and vitamin E was demonstrated for the first time. The roles of oxidative stress in diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis, and cell death (necrosis and apoptosis) were also discussed.