When the build up of free radicals faster than the ability of antioxidants to neutralize them, the body will experience a condition called oxidative stress. Oxidative stress reduces the body’s ability to deal with damage to the cells, and was instrumental in the development of many chronic diseases, such as heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease.
The researchers knew that a diet that includes lots of fruits and vegetables that contain antioxidants that are important to health and the prevention of several chronic diseases, such as atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries).
In the early 2000s, a variety of supplements that contain antioxidant popularized as a way to reduce oxidative stress, preventing various diseases such as cancer, stroke, heart attack, and dementia, and can prolong life. Since then, numerous studies have shown that although there is a relationship between levels of antioxidants with health, but is not a shortcut antioxidant supplements to prevent various diseases associated with age.
One of the problems in determining whether there is cause and effect relationship between oxidative stress with disease is that often, very difficult to know whether the oxidative stress that causes the disease, or vice versa, oxidative stress is the result of biochemical changes in the disease cells.
In addition, each person will experience oxidative stress with age, but each person will experience different types of diseases. The interactions between diet, environment, genetic factors, and health of each person is complex and still not clearly understood. Antioxidant is still a very interesting topic for researchers to find ways to prevent and cure various diseases.
Many clinical trials are underway to investigate the safety and effectiveness of various antioxidants, either separately or in combination with other drugs and supplements.
The researchers believe that increasing the amount of antioxidants in the body by taking supplements will increase the amount of free radicals that are available to interact with LDL cholesterol, thereby minimize the risk of developing heart disease. But this theory has not been proven.
A a paper published in the Journal of the American Medical Association on 28 Februasi 2007, which analyzed 68 trials of antioxidant supplements and involving approximately 232,600 patients concluded that antioxidants can not prolong life.
In fact, when carried out research that is strictly monitored and analyzed, the risk of death can only be decreased by 5%. This analysis is quite controversial, so some experts question the methods of analysis used.
However, the American Heart Association and similar organizations in other countries, further encourage the prevention of heart disease by eating fruits, vegetables, whole grains and nuts are rich in antioxidants, and various other nutrients that are important for prevention of heart disease, instead of a consuming antioxidant supplements.