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The Role of Antioxidants
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- An antioxidant is a substance capable of slowing or preventing the oxidation of other molecules.
- Oxidation is a chemical reaction that causes the transfer of electrons from one substance to another.
- Oxidation reactions produce "free radicals."
- Free radicals start chain reactions that damage cells.
- Anntioxidants stop these chain reactions by becoming "oxidized" themselves and inhibiting other oxidation from occurring.
- Common antioxidants include such things as the thiols, polyphenols, vitamin C & vitamin E.
- Oxidation reactions are crucial for life, but can be damaging.
- Plants, animals and man maintain complex systems of multiple types of antioxidants to stop the oxidative process.
- These include glutathione, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and various peroxidases as well as vitamins C & E.
- Low levels of antioxidants or inhibition of antioxidant enzymes cause "oxidative stress" and may damage or kill cells.
- Since oxidative stress may be an important part of many human diseases, antioxidants have been intensely studied, especially in stroke and neurodegenerative diseases.
- What still remains a mystery is whether the oxidative stress causes the disease or is a consequence of the disease.
- Antioxidants are widely used as ingredients in dietary supplements in the hope of maintaining health and preventing diseases such as cancer or coronary heart disease.
- Antioxidants are classified into 2 broad divisions--those soluble in water & those soluble in fat.
- Water-soluble antioxidants react with oxidants in the cell cytoplasm and blood plasma.
- Lipid-soluble antioxidants protect cell membranes from lipd peroxidation.
- These antioxidants are either made in our bodies or we must supply them in our diets.
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The Road to Wellness 
