Therapeutic potential of dietary phase 2 enzyme inducers in ameliorating diseases that have an underlying inflammatory component 1 Bernhard

Many diseases associated with ageing have an underlying oxidative stress and accompanying inflammatory component, for example, Alzheimer’s disease or atherosclerosis. Reviewed in this manuscript are: the role of oxidative stress in activating the transcription factor nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB), the role of NFκB in activating proinflammatory gene transcription, strong oxidants produced by cells, anti-oxidant defense systems, the central role of phase 2 enzymes in the anti-oxidant defense, dietary phase 2 enzyme inducers and evidence that dietary phase 2 enzymes decrease oxidative stress. It is likely that a diet containing phase 2 enzyme inducers may ameliorate or even prevent diseases that have a prominent inflammatory component to them. Research should be directed into the potential therapeutic effects of dietary phase 2 enzyme inducers in ameliorating diseases with an underlying oxidative stress and inflammatory component to them.