Question

1. Research indicates that antioxidants may help in the prevention of chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and macular degeneration.

How do they do this? Explain.
If they do offer benefits, then why, when people take these antioxidants in supplement form, have studies not shown the same benefits? Explain.

Answer 1

Considerable laboratory evidence from chemical, cell culture, and animal studies indicates that antioxidants may slow or possibly prevent the development of cancer,heart disease and macular degeneration. However, information from recent clinical trials is less clear.

The main antioxidants that help regulate free radicals in your body are the vitamins A, C, and E and the mineral selenium.

Antioxidant supplements contain 70–1,660% of the daily value (DV) of these key nutrients .

• Concerns have not been raised about the safety of antioxidants in food. However, high-dose supplements of antioxidants may be linked to health risks in some cases. Supplementing with high doses of beta-carotene may increase the risk of lung cancer in smokers. Supplementing with high doses of vitamin E may increase risks of prostate cancer and one type of stroke.