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Antioxidant Supplements: Too Much of a Kinda Good Thing

There appears to be a continued public misconception (encouraged by the supplement industry) that free radicals are bad, and that antioxidants are good. Of course, like most phenomena affecting our health, it’s not that simple.

Free radicals are molecules or atoms containing an unpaired electron. Unpaired electrons are attention seekers. They really don’t like being alone, so are always searching out other electrons. This makes them highly reactive. Free radicals are like the unstable friend who shows up drunk to the party and starts breaking things. Antioxidants are molecules that are able to donate an electron to the free radical, thus stabilizing it. They’re like the patient friend…

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Featured

 Don’t waste your time taking antioxidant supplements after exercise

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.

 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.

Articles of Interest

Health myths: Antioxidant pills help you live longer

Study after study has found that while these substances do work as antioxidants in the test tube, popping the pills does not provide any benefit.

The Antioxidant Myth

Save money and get healthy by unleashing your own internal antioxidants.

The biology of coffee, one of the world’s most popular drinks

You’re reading this with a cup of coffee in your hand, aren’t you? Coffee is the most popular drink in many parts of the world. Americans drink more coffee than soda, juice and tea — combined.

The dark side of antioxidants: Fresh evidence that they fuel cancer’s spread

There is no question that antioxidants, such as those in fruits and vegetables and other foods, neutralize molecules called free radicals that can damage DNA. That has led to assertions that antioxidants can prevent cancer, since DNA damage can turn normal cells into malignant ones. But studies of whether antioxidant supplements (pills, not foods) can prevent cancer have largely disappointed.

Antioxidant Sales Grow Alongside Scientific Controversy

Marketers tout product benefits while debate continues on what constitutes a valid measurement of antioxidant activity.

Antioxidants May Make Cancer Worse

New animal studies explain why supposedly healthy supplements like beta-carotene could exacerbate a dread disease.

Antioxidants, Antipathies and Attitude Adjustments

The merits and downfalls of antioxidant supplements require a closer look.

Antioxidants: In Depth

Antioxidants are man-made or natural substances that may prevent or delay some types of cell damage. Diets high in vegetables and fruits, which are good sources of antioxidants, have been found to be healthy; however, research has not shown antioxidant supplements to be beneficial in preventing diseases. Examples of antioxidants include vitamins C and E, selenium, and carotenoids, such as beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein, and zeaxanthin.

More Antioxidants In Your Diet May Not Mean Better Health

Antioxidants in foods are good for you, so more should be better, right? Evidently not. In a new study, people who ate more antioxidants overall didn't lower their risk of stroke and dementia in old age. That flies in the face of earlier research that found that the antioxidants in fruits and vegetables reduce stroke and dementia risk.

Still More Evidence That Antioxidant Supplements Actually Increase Cancer Risk

Antioxidant hype was never really based on science. A handful of studies in the early '90s suggested that people will low intanks of fruits and vegetables known to be high in antioxidants were at greater risk for cancer, and the supplement industry went all out in selling the idea (it's still going all out). Follow up studies, however, focused on individual antioxidant compounds and found not much benefit. These were easily drowned out by a towering wave of antioxidant hype. Since that first wave, further research has continued to find mixed to negative results.

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 Vitamin Myth: Why We Think We Need Supplements

Nutrition experts contend that all we need is what's typically found in a routine diet. Industry representatives, backed by a fascinating history, argue that foods don't contain enough, and we need supplements. Fortunately, many excellent studies have now resolved the issue.

Why Antioxidants Don’t Belong in Your Workout

The upshot is that whether you lift weights or jog, Dr. Goran would advise “against the use of high-dosages of concentrated antioxidant supplements.”

Resources

International Society of Antioxidants in Nutrition and Health

Advance the practical applications of Antioxidants, in all related fields, with particular reference to Health and Nutrition.

SimplyAntioxidant.com

Yes, it’s definitely a health craze but it’s unlikely going to be the last. This craze is relatively new, but the interesting thing is that antioxidants have been around a long … long … long … long time!

Diet.com

The role of antioxidants in the body is complex and not completely understood. Antioxidants combine with free radicals so that the free radicals cannot react with, or oxidize, other molecules. In this way, antioxidants help slow or prevent damage to cells. Damage caused by free radicals is thought to cause or contribute to cardiovascular disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, age-related changes in vision, and other signs of aging. However, no direct cause and effect relationship between antioxidant intake and disease prevention has been proven. Antioxidants unrelated to those of importance in the body have commercial uses in the preservation of processed food and in many industrial processes.

NCCIH

Antioxidants are man-made or natural substances that may prevent or delay some types of cell damage. Diets high in vegetables and fruits, which are good sources of antioxidants, have been found to be healthy; however, research has not shown antioxidant supplements to be beneficial in preventing diseases.

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.