Antioxidants

The term "antioxidant" refers to the activity possessed by numerous vitamins, minerals and other phytochemicals to serve as protection against the damaging effects of highly reactive molecules known as free radicals. Free radicals have the ability to chemically react with, and damage, many structures in the body. Particularly susceptible to oxidative damage are the cell membranes of virtually all cells and the very source of our genetic material – DNA. Free radical reactions and oxidative damage have been linked to many of the diseases of aging such as heart disease and cancer.

Claims

• Cellular protection

• Anti-aging

• Cancer prevention

• Heart disease prevention

• Anti-wrinkle (topical and oral)

• Promotes vision and eyesight

• Enhanced immune function

Theory

The free radical theory of aging (and disease promotion) holds that through a gradual accumulation of microscopic damage to our cell membranes, DNA, tissue structures and enzyme systems, we begin to lose function and are predisposed to disease. In the case of athletes or other avid exercisers, oxidative damage may be elevated due to increased production of free radicals during intense activity. Although the body increases its production of endogenous antioxidant enzymes (glutathione peroxidase, catalase, superoxide dismutase), it may be theorized that supplemental levels of exogenous or dietary antioxidants may be warranted to prevent excessive oxidative damage to muscles, mitochondria and other tissues. In theory, a suppression of damage during exercise may translate into an enhanced ability to recover from exhaustive exercise and a subsequent increase in athletic performance.

Scientific Support

Thousands of studie have clearly documented the beneficial effects of dozens of antioxidant nutrients

There is certainly no shortage of nutrients and phytochemicals that possess significant antioxidant activity in the test tube. Increased dietary intake of antioxidant nutrients, such as vitamins C and E, minerals such as selenium and various phytonutrients such as extracts from grape seed, pine bark and green tea have all been linked to reduced rates of oxidative damage as well as reduced incidence of chronic diseases such as heart disease and cancer.

Safety

At the typically recommended levels, the majority of antioxidants appear to be quite safe. For example, vitamin E, one of the most powerful membrane bound antioxidants also has one of the best safety profiles. Doses of 100-400 IU have been linked to significant cardiovascular benefits with no side effects. Vitamin C, another powerful antioxidant, can help to protect and restore the antioxidant activity of vitamin E, and is considered safe up to doses of 500-1,000 mg. Higher doses of vitamin C are not recommended because of concerns that such levels may cause an "unbalancing" of the oxidative systems and actually promote oxidative damage instead of preventing it. Another popular antioxidant, beta-carotene, is somewhat controversial as a dietary supplement. Although diets high in fruits and vegetables might deliver approximately 5-6 mg of carotenes daily, these would be a mixture of beta-carotene and other naturally occurring carotenoids. Concern was raised several years ago by studies in which high dose beta-carotene supplements appeared to promote lung cancer in heavy smokers. Those studies provided beta-carotene supplements of 20-60 mg – about 5-10 times the levels that could reasonably be expected in the diet.

Value

The 4 key nutritional antioxidants, vitamins C and E, beta-carotene and selenium, are widely available as dietary supplements, well studied and relatively inexpensive. As mentioned above, there are a multitude of fruit and vegetable phytonutrient extracts available that also possess significant antioxidant activity. In most cases, phytonutrient extracts tend to be quite expensive, although their potent antioxidant activity may allow dosages to be extremely small. Some of the more popular antioxidant nutrients found in commercial dietary supplements also include Zinc, Copper, Ginkgo biloba, Grape seed extract , Pine bark extract, Lycopene, Lutein, Quercetin, and Alpha lipoic acid as well as dozens of others.

Dosage

1. Vitamin E – 100 to 400 IU per day

2. Vitamin C – 250 to 500 mg per day

3. Beta-carotene – 5 to 6 mg per day

4. Selenium – 70 to 200 mcg per day