Squalene: a multi-task link in the crossroads of cancer and aging | Functional Foods in Health and Disease - Online ISSN: 2160-3855; Print ISSN: 2378-7007 Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer Open Menu Functional Foods in Health and Disease - Online ISSN: 2160-3855; Print ISSN: 2378-7007 Home Food Science Publisher Functional Food Center Current Archives About About the Journal Aims and Scope Contact Editing Services Editorial Team Express Peer Review Graphical Abstract Journal Insights Privacy Statement Submissions Announcements Search Search Register Login Home / Archives / Vol. 3 No. 12 (2013): December 2013 / Review Articles Squalene: a multi-task link in the crossroads of cancer and aging Authors Alvaro L. Ronco Department of Epidemiology and Scientific Methods, IUCLAEH School of Medicine, Prado and Salt Lake p.16, Maldonado 20100 Eduardo De Stéfani Epidemiology Group, Department of Pathology, Clinicas Hospital, Av. Italia s/n, Montevideo 11300 DOI: https://doi.org/10.31989/ffhd.v3i12.30 Abstract Since its discovery in the beginning of the XXth century, squalene has been recognized as an important link in metabolic pathways. More recently, it has been further recognized as an intermediate step in the biosynthesis of cholesterol. Its well known antioxidant capability, together with its ability to protect skin, improve the immune system, and modulate the lipid profile, confer a high potential to this natural substance, which is spread all across the body structure, though mainly in the epithelial tissues, and in particular the skin sebum. This review will focus mainly on its major properties, which are related to anticancer properties, the maintenance of the oxidation/antioxidation balance, and its antiaging capabilities. Although the substance was originally obtained from shark liver oil, it is currently possible to obtain useful amounts from vegetable sources like extra virgin olive oil, therefore avoiding the dependence on capturing the aforementioned animal species. Recognized as one of the key components of the Mediterranean dietary style, squalene is necessary to adequately manage oxygen and its derivatives in every cell of the body. Key words: aging, antioxidants, cancer, cholesterol, diet, olive oil, squalene Downloads [Abstract] [Full Article] Published 2013-12-20 Issue Vol. 3 No. 12 (2013): December 2013 Section Review Articles License Authors retain the copyright of their articles and grant the Functional Food Center (FFC) and its journals the right of first publication under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. This license permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, including commercial use, provided the original author(s) and source are properly credited. Authors may post and share their published work freely, provided that the original publication in this journal is acknowledged. By submitting to this journal, authors confirm that their manuscripts are original, not under consideration elsewhere, and that they hold the necessary rights to grant this license. The Functional Food Center encourages open scientific exchange and allows derivative and extended works, provided attribution to the original publication is maintained. About the Journal      Editing Services      Graphical Abstract      Journal Insights        Submissions        Editorial Team       Privacy Statement        Contact        Current        Archives   Open Journal Systems Hosting and Support by: OpenJournalSystems.com