MIRIAM ELKAN IS QUALIFIED IN NATUROPATHY AND OSTEOPATHY, AND PRACTISES IN LONDON. SHE LECTURES FOR THE INSTITUTE FOR OPTIMUM NUTRITION, THE LONDON COLLEGE OF NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE, THE CENTRE FOR HOMOEOPATHIC EDUCATION, THE JOHN WERNHAM COLLEGE OF CLASSICAL OSTEOPATHY AND THE INSTITUTE OF CLASSICAL OSTEOPATHY
Antioxidants are protective substances found in many foods. In order to understand why lots of people choose to take antioxidant supplements, it is worth understanding what they are and how they work.
Antioxidants act as a buffer to protect us from the harmful effects of free radicals. Free radicals are atoms, or groups of atoms that contain at least one unpaired electron. Since electrons like to be paired, this unpaired electron will look for something to pair with – a bit like someone at a dance who is determined to find a partner. To find a “partner”, the free radical grabs hold of whatever it can find, stealing electrons from surrounding molecules. These molecules are often parts of cells or body tissues, and the damage caused by the free radicals (referred to as “oxidative stress”) may have devastating effects. (6) (8)
By damaging cell or tissue function, free-radical damage can disrupt important processes within the body. Heart muscle cells, nerve cells and immune cells are particularly susceptible to damage by free radicals. Within the cell there are potential mutagenic effects, where the free radical attacks DNA, causing it to change and hence causing daughter cells to mutate; this is thought to be one of the ways in which cancers start to form (2). Chronic heart failure has been shown to develop faster due to free radical action (3), and a link with atherosclerosis (a serious arterial disease which blocks arteries and can cause heart attacks) has been shown, due to oxidation of “bad” (LDL) cholesterol by free radicals (20) (21). Asthma and some other lung problems are related to oxidative stress (8). Joint damage leading to osteoarthritis has also been linked partially to the effects of free radicals (15) and the inflammatory process of rheumatoid arthritis is also related to oxidative damage (23). Age-related macular degeneration, which is the leading cause of visual impairment and blindness in people over the age of 60, benefits from antioxidants both for prevention and treatment (16) (17). Many other age-related illnesses, including memory loss, benefit from antioxidants (34). Oxidative stress can cause sperm damage, contributing to male infertility (38). Free radicals also interrupt some of the body's key signalling systems, causing major disruption to important body processes (53) (47).
Free radicals occur in everybody, no matter how healthy, and the body has a way of dealing with them by using substances known as antioxidants to combine with the free radicals, making them harmless. So as long as these buffering mechanisms function properly and the level of free radicals is not excessive, the body can cope. However, if the levels of free radicals exceed the levels of available antioxidants, damage may occur. Each free radical may exist for only a tiny fraction of a second, but the damage it leaves behind can be irreversible. (6)
Processes and substances that increase free radicals include fried food, pollution, toxic chemicals, radiation, alcohol, stress and smoking. Because of steep increases in environmental levels of pollution and toxin levels in recent decades, we have need of high levels of antioxidants, to prevent damage to our bodies. (7) (8)
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Theoretically the best way to obtain antioxidants is by eating plenty of fruit and vegetables. The problem now is that studies show that due to depletion of the soil, even organic foods have diminished amounts of antioxidants, while levels of free radicals are very high. This is why many people now are choosing to take supplements containing high levels of extra antioxidants. (4) (5)
Some antioxidants work better in one part of the body than another and antioxidants tend to work synergistically, so it is usually better to take smaller doses of several different antioxidants than a large amount of only one (25). Health Perception’s SUPER ANTIOXIDANT® includes many extremely-powerful antioxidants which have been carefully selected for their synergistic effect, working together to protect the different areas of your body from free-radical damage.
For example
• Vitamins A, C and E – These key vitamins have multiple essential nutritive functions in the body. As antioxidants, studies show that they protect against heart disease (39) including for smokers who are more prone to problems (40); protect against various cancers (41) (42) (43) (44) (45) (51); slow progression of age-related cataracts (46); maintain membrane structures, which protects every cell and is especially important for nerve functions (47); protect sperm, and hence can be used in treatment of male infertility (48) (49); protect the health of the blood (50); protect against osteoarthritis (15); and repair damage to blood vessels in people with diabetes (52).
• Pomegranate – Rich in anthocyanins, a group of polyphenolic compounds that possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Research suggests uses in prevention and treatment of some cancers (13) for osteoarthritis (14) and for reduction of atherosclerosis (1) (19).
• Zinc – Is particularly important for the liver, for example protecting it from damage by alcohol (26); it is also shown to be protective in cases of age-related macular degeneration, including reducing mortality from this disease (27) (28) (16).
• Selenium – Research suggests that this may act as a preventative both of cancer (2) and of chronic heart failure (3). It is essential for thyroid function (9), important for immune functions (12) (10) and for male fertility (48). It also helps to release zinc for use by the body (29). Selenium has been demonstrated to be short in European foods and therefore many experts feel that it needs to be supplemented (11) (5).
• Lycopene – Studies show that this substance, found in cooked tomatoes, leads to a marked decrease in the risk of heart attacks (18) (22) (25) as well as a decreased risk of various cancers, particularly prostate cancer (22) (24) (51). It has also been shown to offer protection against sunburn (35).
• Glutathione – Known as a “Phase 2 enzyme”, this belongs to a slightly different family of antioxidants from those above. It is now getting attention particularly for the protection it offers against cancer, with positive trials against breast cancer and skin cancer as well as other tumours (30) (31) (32) (33). It also helps the health of sperm, and hence may be useful in treating male infertility (36).
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