Thinking outside the classical chain reaction box of lipid oxidation: Evidence for alternate pathways and the importance of epoxides.

Lipid oxidation has always been viewed as a simple free radical chain reaction with straightforward sequence of radicals → hydroperoxides → products. The first paper in this series proposed that alternate reactions of lipid peroxyl and alkoxyl radicals compete with hydrogen abstraction to make the process much more complex. This article provides experimental evidence for formation of epoxides as major products and shows how monitoring a broad spectrum of products is critical for accurate assessment of the extent of lipid oxidation, elucidating reaction pathways, and anticipating potential toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]