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Antioxidant nutrients: current dietary recommendations and research update.
1School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, USA. June_McDermott@unc.edu
Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association (Washington, D.C. : 1996)
|December 9, 2000
Summary
Dietary antioxidants, including vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, and carotenoids, offer significant health benefits. Found abundantly in fruits and vegetables, these nutrients play a crucial role in preventing diseases and supporting immune function.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional Science
- Biochemistry
- Preventive Medicine
Background:
- Oxidative stress, a key factor in disease development, is counteracted by antioxidants.
- Antioxidant nutrients like vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, and carotenoids are vital for cellular protection.
- Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) for these nutrients have been updated by the Institute of Medicine (IOM).
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the health importance of antioxidant nutrients.
- To examine their role in disease prevention and treatment.
- To discuss updated IOM DRIs for vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, and carotenoids.
Main Methods:
- Review of IOM reports on antioxidant vitamin recommendations.
- MEDLINE search for recent research and review articles.
- Analysis of key findings on antioxidant nutrient research.
Main Results:
- Antioxidants protect against oxidation in biological systems.
- Antioxidant nutrients are implicated in preventing cancer, cardiovascular disease, ocular, and respiratory disorders.
- Dietary sources, particularly fruits and vegetables, provide significant health benefits.
Conclusions:
- Dietary antioxidants from foods like fruits and vegetables offer substantial health advantages.
- Supplemental antioxidants, especially vitamin E, show potential benefits, though results vary.
- Antioxidant nutrients are crucial for preventing diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, macular degeneration, cataracts, asthma, and enhancing immune function.