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Fluoroquinolones Deplete Antioxidants
Fluoroquinolone antibiotics damage the cellular mechanisms that are needed to repair mitochondrial damage – namely intracellular antioxidant production. The FDA report notes that, “Under normal circumstances, there is a mechanism to remove or prevent the generation of ROS to avoid cellular damage such as lipid peroxidation, mtDNA mutations, and DNA strand breaks; if this does not happen, it can then lead to even more oxidative damage.”

A 2011 study of Indian patients who took various fluoroquinolones to treat urinary tract infections found that, “There was substantial depletion in both SOD and glutathione levels particularly with ciprofloxacin.” SODs are superoxide dismutases – enzymes that are necessary for converting superoxide – a powerful oxidant – into oxygen and hydrogen peroxide. Without adequate SOD, superoxide wreaks havoc on every cell in the body. Glutathione is often called the “master antioxidant” and without proper levels of it, oxidants damage cells. (Additionally, “Glutathione (GSH) has a crucial role in cellular signaling and antioxidant defenses either by reacting directly with reactive oxygen or nitrogen species or by acting as an essential cofactor for GSH S-transferases and glutathione peroxidases. GSH acting in concert with its dependent enzymes, known as the glutathione system, is responsible for the detoxification of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) and electrophiles produced by xenobiotics. Adequate levels of GSH are essential for the optimal functioning of the immune system in general and T cell activation and differentiation in particular.” source)

As the FDA noted, when damaged mitochondria produce too much ROS, and the mechanisms to limit the damage (cellular production of antioxidants) aren’t working properly, an increasing amount of oxidative damage is done. This is often referred to as the “vicious cycle” of mitochondrial damage – damaged mitochondria produce excess ROS (reactive oxygen species – often called oxidative stress), those ROS further damage the mitochondria, the further damaged mitochondria produce more ROS, and so on, and so on. As noted above, mitochondrial damage, oxidative stress, and the vicious cycle between them has been linked to every chronic disease that plagues people – diabetes, Alzheimer’s, autism, etc.

Fluoroquinolone antibiotics damage mitochondria and cause an increase in ROS/oxidative stress. They also deplete cells of antioxidants such as SOD and glutathione, leaving the cells unable to neutralize ROS / oxidative stress. Excess cellular ROS / oxidative stress is related to every chronic disease there is.

http://www.hormonesmatter.com/fluoroquinolone-antibiotics-damage-mitochondria-fda-adds-warning/