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Understanding antioxidants

Too much of these antioxidant supplements won't help you and may even harm you. It is better to supply your antioxidants from a well-rounded diet...

News articles, advertisements, and food labels often tout antioxidant benefits such as slowing aging, fending off heart disease, improving flagging vision, and curbing cancer. And laboratory studies and many large-scale observational studies (those that query people about their eating habits and supplement use and then track their disease patterns) have noted antioxidant benefits from diets rich in them, particularly those coming from a broad range of colorful vegetables and fruits. But results from randomized controlled trials of antioxidant…

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Featured

 The antioxidant paradox: less paradoxical now?

The term ‘antioxidant paradox’ is often used to refer to the observation that oxygen radicals and other reactive oxygen species are involved in several human diseases, but giving large doses of dietary antioxidant supplements to human subjects has, in most studies, demonstrated little or no preventative or therapeutic effect. Why should this be?

Articles of Interest

What are antioxidants? And are they truly good for us?

Antioxidants seem to be everywhere; in superfoods and skincare, even chocolate and red wine. Products that contain antioxidants are marketed as essential for good health, with promises to fight disease and reverse ageing. But are they really as good for us as we’re led to believe?

An expert panel has recommended against taking vitamin E or beta carotene supplements for the prevention of cancer and cardiovascular disease – here’s why

The panel of experts concluded that with regard to the prevention of cardiovascular disease or cancer, the harms of beta carotene supplementation outweigh the benefits and that there is no net benefit of supplementation with vitamin E for those purposes. Their recommendation applies to adults who are not pregnant and excludes those who are chronically ill, are hospitalized or have a known nutritional deficiency.

Antioxidants Explained: Why These Compounds Are So Important

A lot of hype surrounds a group of compounds found in food called antioxidants. They are touted as everything from disease fighters to memory protectors to the antidote to aging. What are these compounds? Why are they important? And should you take supplements to get enough (or more) in your diet?

Don’t waste your time taking antioxidant supplements after exercise

Some people also take antioxidant supplements to improve their general health or protect against certain cancers but the scientific evidence for this is poor. And similarly, our recent analysis of the existing scientific literature found similar results. We recently published a Cochrane review which included 50 studies looking at the link between antioxidant use and reduced muscle soreness. And we discovered that there is no solid evidence that antioxidants works.

Europe to Antioxidants: Take a Hike

EU officials have banned health claims about foods like pomegranate and green tea. Kiss your goji berries goodbye.

Still More Evidence That Antioxidant Supplements Actually Increase Cancer Risk

Antioxidants have been pitched from grocery store shelves, vitamin supplement labels, and by nutritionist sketchballs for as long as I can remember. Indeed, the basic idea traces all the way back to the 1920s and the identification of vitamin E and its benefits for the reproductive health of mice. The idea would peak in the early 00's with the sudden ascendancy of the "superfoods" marketing movement—largely premised on the idea of beneficial antioxidants—and it's waned only slightly since.

Study: 'Anti-Aging' Antioxidant Actually Seems to Undo Effects of Exercise

The compound resveratrol, believed to benefit longevity and heart health for its antioxidant properties, seemed to undermine the cardiovascular benefits of exercise in a small study.

The Antioxidant Lie: Marketing Run Amock

The marketing has become so competitive that unprocessed fruits and vegetables have to get into the act. I've seen ads for blueberries, tomatoes, and artichokes advertising their high antioxidant content. Of course they have antioxidants. All fruits and vegetables contain antioxidants, and theirs may actually do some good.

The Doctor and the Pomegranate

Antioxidants don’t work, but no one wants to hear it.

Resources

The Nutrition Source

Often used as a marketing buzzword, learn about the role of antioxidants beyond the hype, and some of the research on health and disease prevention.