The adaptability of our body is amazing, but we are able to push it a little too far at times.

ROS might just be the single universal cell signaler. From the micro level, it is a simple system designed to help keep the cell’s mitochondria alive through uncoupling protein activation. It kind of acts like an escape valve used to let off pressure when drilling. The reduced pressure may hinder the drills efficiency, but ultimately keep it from blowing up. The is the same idea but at the cellular level.

ROS is also a natural stimulator of our redox system, which is responsible for removing ROS when it is naturally produced. Thus, improvements in our redox actually increase our oxidative burden capacity (handle more stress).

ROS also leads to a cascade of other events. For example, in the muscle, ROS may stimulate IL-6, which stimulates cortisol, which stimulates the liver to raise blood glucose levels. However, excess ROS can lead to HPA disturbances and immune suppression. Thus, the idea of “enough stress” is quite evident.

This whole ROS related stress cycle may help explain a lot of the individual adaptive differences we see in training. While training is quite macro in nature, ROS and redox may be part of the micro regulating processes that allows us to functionally adapt to any type of stressor.

Paper name here:
Redox Mechanism of Reactive Oxygen Species in Exercise