Among the various theories proposed to account for the process of aging, the free radical theory is of practical interest since it includes the possibility of retarding this process by administrating natural or synthetic antioxidants and free radical scavengers. The book "Free Radicals and Aging" summarizes knowledge accumulated during recent years in 42 reviews written by experts in the field. Aspects of free radical involvement in the intrinsic aging process and in age-related diseases, as well as the importance of the pro-antioxidant balance throughout life are discussed. Epidemiological studies from several European countries are reported showing correlations between low plasma levels of essential antioxidants and the occurence of coronary heart disease, cancer and cataract formation. Appropriate nutrition as well as prophylactic and therapeutic use of antioxidants are considered. This book represents a milestone in the field of age-related free radical biology and medicine. With contributions by: A. Azzi, B. Chance, R.G. Cutler, H. Esterbauer, P.H. Evans, F. Gey, C. Guarneri, D. Harman, N.I. Krinsky, M. Meydani, J. Miquel, A. Mori, L. Packer, C. Rice-Evans, M. Simic, A. Taylor, T. Yoshikawa.

Inhalt
I: The Intrinsic Aging Process.- Theoretical Considerations.- Free radical theory of aging: History.- Free radical theory of aging: View against the reliability theory.- The rate of DNA damage and aging.- Genetic stability and oxidative stress: Common mechanisms in aging and cancer.- Oxygen-induced mitochondrial damage and aging.- Biochemical Markers of Aging.- Instabilities of metabolic regulations in aging.- Protein modification in aging.- Mitochondrial production of oxygen free radicals in the heart muscle during the life span of the rat: Peak at middle age.- Lipofuscinogenesis in a model system of cultured cardiac myocytes.- Cellular clones and transgenic mice overexpressing copper-zinc superoxide dismutase: Models for the study of free radical metabolism and aging.- The importance of antioxidant enzymes in cellular aging and degeneration.- Relationship between antioxidants, lipid peroxidation and aging.- The metabolism of 4-hydroxynonenal, a lipid peroxidation product, is dependent on tumor age in Ehrlich mouse ascites cells.- Effect of aging on glutathione metabolism. Protection by antioxidants.- II. Age-Related Diseases.- Cardiovascular System.- Inhibition of LDL oxidation by antioxidants.- Desialylated low density lipoproteins and atherosclerosis.- Molecular basis of ?-tocopherol inhibition of smooth muscle cell proliferation in vitro.- Brain.- Oxidation damage in Alzheimer's dementia, and the potential etiopathogenic role of aluminosilicates, microglia and micronutrient interactions.- The role of alterations in free radical metabolism in mediating cognitive impairments in Down's syndrome.- Free radicals and neurotransmitters in gerbii brain. Influence of age and ischemia reperfusion insult.- Free radicals, lipid peroxidation, SOD activity,neurotransmitters and choline acetyltransferase activity in the aged rat brain.- Evidence for drug metabolism as a source of reactive species in the brain.- Cancer.- Anticarcinogenic activities of carotenoids in animals and cellular systems.- Aging and cancer: Plasma antioxidants and lipid peroxidation in young and aged breast cancer patients.- DNA damage in mammalian cell lines with different antioxidant levels and DNA repair capacities.- Variable ?-tocopherol stimulation and protection of glutathione peroxidase activity and non-transformed and transformed fibroblasts.- Assessing and counteracting the prooxidant effects of anticancer drugs.- Eye Disease.- Effect of photooxidation on the eye lens and role of nutrients in delaying cataract.- Carotenoids in the retina A review of their possible role in preventing or limiting damage caused by light and oxygen.- Oxidative stress in diabetic retina.- Cartilage, Collagen and Skin.- Active oxygen species, articular inflammation and cartilage damage.- Oxidative damage to collagen.- Free radicals and aging of the skin.- Diabetes, Gastrointestinal Tract.- Modulators of free radical activity in diabetes mellitus: Role of ascorbic acid.- Possible role of free radicals in the chronic inflammation of the gut.- III. Epidemiologic Studies, Nutrition and Antioxidant Supplementation.- Age-related variations of enzymatic defenses against free radicals and peroxidates.- Antioxidant status (selenium, vitamins A and E) and aging.- Inverse correlation between essential antioxidants in plasma and subsequent risk to develop cancer, ischemic heart disease and stroke respectively: 12-year follow-up of the Prospective Basel Study.- Vitamin E requirement in relation to dietary fish oil and oxidative stress in elderly.- Vitamin C and vitamin E synergistic interactions in vivo?.- The threshold of age in exercise and antioxidants action.- Antioxidant therapy in the aging process.- Acknowledgements.