ANTIOXIDANTS

Food/Supplemental Antioxidants

Antioxidants are needed to balance the oxidants produced by and present in the body

Antioxidants "sacrifice" themselves to preserve our body parts from damage by oxidants

For more information on the function of antioxidants in the body:

Antioxidants - "Oxidant Damage Control"

Antioxidants include:

•   Vitamin A, Vitamin B, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, and Vitamin K

•   Phytonutrients:   

Carotenoids.   E.g. beta-carotene (in carrots, pumpkin, sweet potatoes), lycopene (in tomatoes)

Polyphenols.   E.g. resveratrol (in grapes, red wine), anthocyanins (in berries) curcumin (in turmeric), epicatechins (in dark chocolate, green tea)

•   Other antioxidants.   E.g. CoQ-10;  alpha-lipoic acid;

Antioxidants are water-soluble and/or fat soluble:

•   Fat soluble.   Protect cellular plasma and nucleic membranes (housing DNA) from lipid peroxidation. (Canfield et al, 1985). Fat soluble vitamins can be stored in the body (except K storage is minimal).Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, CoQ-10, alpha-lipoic acid;

•   Water Soluble -  Provide oxidant damage control in the blood and cell plasma. Water soluble vitamins can NOT be stored in the body. Include: Vitamin B, Vitamin C,  alpha-lipoic acid.

How do we obtain antioxidants?

-   From food and/or supplements

-   Produced “In-House” by the body.   E.g. Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT), Glutathione Peroxidase (GPx), Glutathione (GSH), CoQ10 (production decreases with age)

All Antioxidants need optimal amounts of certain dietary, MINERALS to function properly

References

Canfield LM et al (1985) Anti-oxidant/pro-oxidant reactions of vitamin K.