CAT gene: nutrition, lifestyle and hacks to improve functionUpdated a year ago

Catalase, encoded by the CAT gene, has a crucial role in skin health, hair and aging. Oxidative stress, resulting from an imbalance between free radical production and antioxidant defenses such as catalase, is a major contributor to skin aging and skin diseases. For instance, studies show that reduced catalase levels in the skin are linked to vitiligo, a skin condition characterized by loss of pigment [1].

It has also been linked with premature greying of hair. This is due to its role in breaking down hydrogen peroxide in the body. A buildup of hydrogen peroxide in hair follicles can cause oxidative stress, which damages the melanin-producing cells in the hair follicles. Melanin is responsible for hair color, and damage to these cells can lead to a loss of hair pigment, or grey hair [4].

Furthermore, catalase may protect the skin against the harmful effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation, a major cause of skin aging and skin cancer. UV radiation induces the production of reactive oxygen species in the skin, leading to oxidative stress, inflammation, and DNA damage. By breaking down hydrogen peroxide, a potent reactive oxygen species, catalase helps prevent UV-induced oxidative damage, thereby potentially slowing down skin aging and reducing the risk of skin cancer [2].

Given these roles, boosting catalase activity may help maintain skin health. For instance, topically applied antioxidants, including catalase, have been shown to enhance the skin's antioxidant defenses and protect against UV-induced damage [3].

Boosting catalase function can be accomplished through several dietary and lifestyle strategies:

1. Diet and Lifestyle: A diet rich in antioxidants can support the overall health of your body's cells, including those that produce catalase. In particular, fruits and vegetables are rich sources of antioxidants. Foods high in flavonoids, such as berries, and in polyphenols, such as dark chocolate and nuts, can also help to support the activity of catalase [5].

2. Supplementation: Certain vitamins and minerals are known to enhance catalase function. These include vitamins C and E, which have antioxidant properties [6]. In addition, selenium is an essential mineral that can support the activity of catalase [7]. Glutathione and NAC are also key antioxidants that can be taken

   orally.

3. Exercise: Regular physical exercise has been shown to boost the activity of catalase [8]. This could be because exercise increases the production of reactive oxygen species, which in turn stimulates the body's antioxidant defense system.

References:

1. Schallreuter KU, Moore J, Wood JM, Beazley WD, Gaze DC, Tobin DJ, Marshall HS, Panske A, Panzig E, Hibberts NA. In vivo and in vitro evidence for hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) accumulation in the epidermis of patients with vitiligo and its successful removal by a UVB-activated pseudocatalase. J Investig Dermatol Symp Proc. 1999 Sep;4(1):91-6.

2. Kohen R. Skin antioxidants: their role in aging and in oxidative stress--new approaches for their evaluation. Biomed Pharmacother. 1999 May;53(4):181-92.

3. Poljšak B, Dahmane RG, Godić A. Intrinsic skin aging: the role of oxidative stress. Acta Dermatovenerol Alp Pannonica Adriat. 2012 Jun;21(2):33-6.

4. Wood JM, Decker H, Hartmann H, et al. Senile hair graying: H2O2-mediated oxidative stress affects human hair color by blunting methionine sulfoxide repair. FASEB J. 2009;23(7):2065-2075.

5. Cory H, Passarelli S, Szeto J, Tamez M, Mattei J. The Role of Polyphenols in Human Health and Food Systems: A Mini-Review. Front Nutr. 2018 Sep 26;5:87.

6. Niki E. Role of vitamin E as a lipid-soluble peroxyl radical scavenger: in vitro and in vivo evidence. Free Radic Biol Med. 2014 Jan;66:3-12.

7. Rayman MP. The importance of selenium to human health. Lancet. 2000 Jul 15;356(9225):233-41.

8. Ji LL. Exercise-induced modulation of antioxidant defense. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2002 Apr;959:82-92.