Ten misconceptions about antioxidants

Oxidative damage is a common cellular event involved in numerous drug toxicities. Antioxidants prevent or delay oxidative damage, and there has been extensive research into the discovery of natural and designed antioxidants. Initial excitement regarding the potential health of antioxidants has diminished. Currently, it is even claimed that increase mortality. The antioxidant pendulum appears to swing from toxic and from general panacea to insignificant ingredient. Owing to the of views towards antioxidants, nutritional recommendation ranges from increase antioxidant status in plasma to the notion that it is a useless measurement. Such views, lacking sufficient scientific support, lead to misconceptions, which in our opinion hinder the rational use of food and impedes the design and development of new antioxidant drugs. As a good opportunities might easily be missed.