Reactive Sulfur Species Act as Prooxidants in Liposomal and Skeletal Muscle Model Systems

Reactive sulfur species (RSS) are redox-active sulfur compounds formed under conditions of oxidative stress that may be capable of initiating oxidation reactions. The objective of this research was to determine if two RSS, sulfite radicals and disulfide S-oxides (DSSO), induce oxidation in n-3 liposomes and muscle homogenates. Sulfite radicals and DSSO caused an increase in secondary oxidation products compared to the unoxidized control within 5 min of addition to liposomes. In muscle homogenates, DSSO caused immediate oxidation of sulfhydryls, whereas sulfite radicals caused a slow and linear oxidation of sulfhydryls and lipid. These results suggest that if conditions exist in muscle foods that promote the formation of RSS, they could be a factor in the course of lipid oxidation by either weakening antioxidant defenses or directly oxidizing lipid molecules.