Ten misconceptions about antioxidants

Abstract

Oxidative damage is a common cellular event involved in numerous diseases and drug toxicities. Antioxidants prevent or delay oxidative damage, and therefore there has been extensive research into the discovery of natural and newly designed antioxidants. Initial excitement regarding the potential health benefits of antioxidants has diminished. Currently, it is even claimed that antioxidants increase mortality. The antioxidant pendulum appears to swing from healthy to toxic and from general panacea to insignificant ingredient. Owing to the polarity of views towards antioxidants, nutritional recommendation ranges from advice to increase antioxidant status in plasma to the notion that it is a useless measurement. Such views, lacking sufficient scientific support, lead to misconceptions, which in our opinion hinder the rational use of food supplements and impedes the design and development of new antioxidant drugs. As a result, good opportunities might easily be missed.

Keywords: flavonoids; health; nutrition; oxidants; oxygen radicals; redox; vitamin E.