| Summary: | Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) are molecules naturally produced by cells. If their levels are
too high, the cellular antioxidant machinery intervenes to bring back their quantity to physiological
conditions. Since aging often induces malfunctioning in this machinery, ROS are considered an
effective cause of age-associated diseases. Exercise stimulates ROS production on one side, and the
antioxidant systems on the other side. The effects of exercise on oxidative stress markers have been
shown in blood, vascular tissue, brain, cardiac and skeletal muscle, both in young and aged people.
However, the intensity and volume of exercise and the individual subject characteristics are important
to envisage future strategies to adequately personalize the balance of the oxidant/antioxidant
environment. Here, we reviewed the literature that deals with the effects of physical activity on
redox balance in young and aged people, with insights into the molecular mechanisms involved.
Although many molecular pathways are involved, we are still far from a comprehensive view of the
mechanisms that stand behind the effects of physical activity during aging. Although we believe that
future precision medicine will be able to transform exercise administration from wellness to targeted
prevention, as yet we admit that the topic is still in its infancy.
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