Lipid peroxidation typically begins with the abstraction of a hydrogen atom from a lipid molecule by a free radical. This initiates a chain reaction that proceeds through three stages: initiation, propagation, and termination. During the initiation phase, a reactive radical such as a hydroxyl radical (•OH) reacts with a lipid molecule to produce a lipid radical. In the propagation phase, this lipid radical reacts with molecular oxygen to produce a lipid peroxyl radical, which can then react with another lipid molecule. Finally, in the termination phase, two radicals react to form a non-radical product, thereby ending the chain reaction.
