Circulating antioxidant

"Circulating antioxidant" does **not** refer to a specific molecule or therapeutic target but rather describes the collective pool of various endogenous and exogenous compounds present in blood that can neutralize free radicals and protect against oxidative damage. These include vitamins such as vitamin C and E, carotenoids like β-carotene and lycopene, minerals like selenium and manganese, glutathione, coenzyme Q10, lipoic acid, flavonoids, polyphenols, phytoestrogens—and many more. The term encompasses both enzymatic systems (e.g., superoxide dismutase) and nonenzymatic small molecules found in circulation. Measurement methods often assess total antioxidant capacity rather than individual components.[1][2][4] While levels of circulating antioxidants are studied as biomarkers for disease risk or progression—such as cardiovascular disease or inflammatory conditions—they do **not** represent a discrete druggable protein/receptor/enzyme/transporter. Summary judgment: The entry "circulating antioxidant" is incorrect for use as a canonical therapeutic target because it does not correspond to any single molecular entity but instead refers broadly to multiple substances with shared chemical properties present in the bloodstream.[1][2]

Other names

Circulating antioxidantsBlood antioxidantsPlasma antioxidantsSerum antioxidants