Overview  Superoxide dismutase is an antioxidant enzyme that’s found in all living cells within the body. What is superoxide dismutase used for? The enzyme works to speed up chemical reactions in the body, and it plays a critical role in reducing oxidative stress that’s associated with the formation of many life-threatening diseases. Superoxide dismutase forms can be categorized into four groups, including copper-zinc-SOD, iron SOD, manganese superoxide dismutase and nickel SOD. These forms of the antioxidant enzyme are distributed throughout the body in different subcellular compartments. Superoxide dismutase function depends on the form and its ability to absorb properly in the body. What are known as SOD1 and SOD2 are found in humans and other mammals, while SOD can also be found in plants. The enzymes catalyze the conversion of superoxide, which is a reactive oxygen species that’s produced during aerobic respiration, the chemical reaction that transfers energy to our cells.