For Antioxidants, Go Straight to the Source

 

FRIDAY, July 25 (HealthDayNews) --Popping a pill to increase antioxidants in your body apparently doesn't work as well as eating the fruits and vegetables that contain them naturally.

And what works even better, researchers claim, is mixing the natural foods together.

Dietary antioxidants are considered beneficial because they slow the chemical process of oxidation, which causes cholesterol deposits and narrowing of the arteries and can lead to various heart-related problems. A variety of fruits, vegetables and herbs contain antioxidants -- including onions, tomatoes, garlic, rosemary, grapes and pomegranates -- but antioxidant supplements also have been developed.

However, supplements don't work as well, according to laboratory tests at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, because they generally contain only one specific antioxidant. Fruits and vegetables, on the other hand, contain a range of antioxidants that work together synergistically, the researchers say.

And, they add, combinations of certain antioxidants produce better results than when those same antioxidants are ingested separately.

Vitamin E, for instance, has a stronger effect when it's obtained in a tomato rather than alone because, the researchers say, tomatoes also contain beta carotene, lycopene and some flavonoids, which interact with the vitamin E for increased benefit.

More Research Supporting Benefits of Antioxidants

 

Recent studies further support the need for antioxidants and other nutrients to protect against cell damage, and in some cases even reduce risks of certain forms of cancer. One medical study had very promising results when participants were given a daily dose of

vitamin C, vitamin E, beta carotene and selenium. Most multivitamins on the market do not qualify as good because they lack so many important antioxidants and/or use inadequate levels and forms.

There were two articles that appeared in medical literature this month that were of a related and significant nature and I felt they warranted a newsletter. In a study out of Spain, researchers indicated that mitochondria (the power plants of our cells) are both a major source of oxidants as well as a target for the damaging effect of these oxidant molecules. Mitochondrial oxidative damage appears to be a cause rather than a consequence of cellular aging. In cellular aging which is known as apoptosis.

"In apoptosis it is felt that every cell has a fixed number of cell divisions following which over time the cell ceases to function."

The study out of Spain along with many others counter this argument indicating that mitochondrial function is impaired primarily because of the pro-oxidants that are produced by the mitochondria. The researchers further go on to indicate that this oxidative damage contributes to DNA mutations which in turn leads to further malfunction of the cell.

In a related article published this month in the journal Mutagenesis, researchers from Norway investigated the effects of antioxidant supplementation on chromosomal damage. A three-month antioxidant supplementation trial was conducted on 28 patients who had suffered a heart attack and 57 healthy individuals. The treated group was given a daily dose of vitamin C, vitamin E, beta carotene and selenium. White cells were collected at the beginning and end of the supplementation period and were subsequently stimulated to look for evidence of chromosomal damage. The individuals who received supplementation with antioxidants had a statistically significant decrease in the percentage of cells with chromosomal damage. Prior to the treatment, chromosomal damage could be induced in 63% of the cells and after treatment, only 27%. The largest positive effect with supplementation was seen in smokers. Those treated with the supplements only had 12% abnormal cells compared to 81% of individuals receiving placebo. The researchers concluded that the results support the hypothesis that antioxidants decrease genetic damage.

There have been countless studies in medical literature over the last few decades indicating that antioxidants and certain nutrients can have a beneficial effect regarding cancer. I had previously cited a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine from 1998 indicating that in a large group of women taking supplemental folic acid for more than 15 years, the incidence of colon cancer was decreased by about 75%. Its still a wonder that recently some individuals in the medical community have made statements that vitamins and supplemental nutrients have not been proven to show benefit for cancer risk reduction. It should be ask these physicians and academicians what safe and effective drugs they have available that could clearly reduce the risk of cancer. The answer is that there are none

Alpha Lipoic Acid

Powerful antioxidant with both fat and water soluable properties. Increases cellular glutathione. Inhibits aldose reductase, a harmful enzyme implicated in promoting neuropathy and retinopathy in diabetics. Has demonstrated some benefit in diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Enhances insulin-stimulated glucose metabolism in insulin-resistant humans. Crosses blood brain barrier and offers neurological protection from free radicals and oxidative stress. Reduces HIV expression. Reduces LDL oxidation.

 

============================================================

A Short list of the better known *Antioxodant's.*

-------------------------------------------------------------

Bilberry

(Studies used 160 - 320 mg per day of the standardized 25% anthocyanosides.) Powerful antioxidant. In vitro anticancer activity. Inhibits LDL oxidation. Improves myopia. Protects and improves vision in diabetics presumably by stabilizing microvascular permeability.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Bioperine

(Black pepper - piper nigrum fruit extract) Increases absorption of other nutrients from 30 to 250% via process called thermogenesis.

--------------------------------------------------------------

Boron

Trace mineral, reduces urinary excretion of calcium and magnesium while increasing serum concentrations of estradiol and testosterone. Appears beneficial in osteoporosis and may also provide benefit in osteoarthritis.

---------------------------------------------------------------

Calcium

(Studies indicate citrate malate form is up to 11X more bioavailable.) Reverses bone loss and reduces fracture rates 60% when citrate malate form is given at 500 mg per day when combined with 700IU vitamin D per day. Lowers blood pressure. Reduces colon cancer rates 58% when combined with vitamin D. Low calcium diet is risk factor for gallstones by inducing oxalate urinary output.

--------------------------------------------------------------

Carotenoids

Powerful class of antioxidants (over 600 carotenoids in nature). Patients with lowest carotenoid levels have a 720% higher risk of cataracts. People with highest levels of carotenoids have 43% less risk of age-related macular degeneration. People with lowest lycopene levels have double the risk of AMD. Alzheimer's and dementia patients have significantly lower levels. Lycopene reduces prostate cancer risk by 53%. Inhibits LDL oxidation. Hyperlipidemic men with highest total carotenoid levels who never smoked had a 72% reduced risk of coronary heart disease. Some controversial studies indicating that beta carotene may increase lung cancer in smokers. These studies, however, used the synthetic form of beta carotene without vitamin C or other carotenoids. It is well known that smokers are severely deficient in vitamin C. Without vitamin C the beta carotene becomes a proxidant and cannot be recycled back to a antioxidant. Numerous epidemiologic studies have indicated carotenoids, in general, have a beneficial effect regarding cancer.

-----------------------------------------------------------

Chondroitin Sulfate

More effective versus diclofenac sodium (Voltaren) in osteoarthritis after 3 months without side effects. Excellent oral absorption. May have benefit in atherosclerosis.

------------------------------------------------------------

Chromium

(ChromeMate - polynicotinate is safest with excellent results.) Decreases insulin resistance. Lowers blood glucose, cholesterol, insulin and HbA1c. Improves symptomatic hypoglycemia. Raises HDL in men taking beta-blockers.

------------------------------------------------------------

Coenzyme Q10

Positive results on exercise tolerance in angina. Excellent results with cardiomyopathy in 6 year, 143 patent study showing reductions in HYHA classes with no side effects. Good results in muscular dystrophies and neurogenic atrophies. Some reported effect on regression of breast and liver cancer.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Essential Fatty Acids

(DHA & EPA Omega -3) Essential for retina and neurological functions. Improves immune system and prolongs survival in severely ill patients with cancer. Excellent results in peroxisomal disorders. Improves HDL/LDL ratios and lowers triglycerides. Reduces aggressive behavior.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Flavonoids

(Green Tea, Quercetin, Red Wine, Grape Seed) Highest intake reduces heart disease mortality by 58% and stroke incidence by 73%.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Gamma-Oryzanol

Lowers total cholesterol 39% and LDL 42% with no side effects. Decreases cholesterol absorption and aortic fatty streaks in animals. Lowers TSH in hypothryoidism.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Garlic

(Must use garlic powder, not steam distilled oils or oil-macerates.) Reduces blood pressure, platelet-aggregation, fibrinogen and cholesterol levels. Improves the elastic properties of the aorta. Reduces prostate and lung cancer cell growth. Has antimicrobial activity against helicobacter pylori implicated in stomach cancer and ulcers.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Ginkgo Biloba

(Must use the standardized 24%/6% extract) Improves cognitive and social functioning in Alzheimer's and dementia patients. Reverses antidepressant induced sexual dysfunction in 84% of patients. Improves mild to moderate memory impairment. Improves peripheral microcirculation. Powerful antioxidant. Inhibits LDL oxidation.

---------------------------------------------------------------

Glucosamine Sulfate

Excellent results in osteoarthritis. May have benefits in atherogenesis.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Grape Seed Extract

Powerful antioxidant. Reduces LDL oxidation. Components have beneficial plant estrogen effects. Reduces lung, breast and gastric cancer cell growth. Improves growth and viability of normal cells. Protects liver from acetaminophen toxcicity.

------------------------------------------------------------------

Green Tea

(Use standardized extract: 80% polphenols/55% epigallocatechin.) Induces apoptosis in human prostate and stomach cancer cells. Prevents cell damage in smokers. Reduces LDL oxidation. Protects red blood cells from oxidative damage. Highest consumption reduces cancers of the colon (18%), rectal (28%) and pancreatic (37%). Lowest consumption has double the stroke risk.

----------------------------------------------------------------

Iron

(Should never be given as a supplement unless ferritin levels are depleted.) Increases in iron intake increase coronary heart disease risk up to 360%. Serum ferritin causes LDL lipid peroxidation and is a strong risk predictor for progression of atherosclerosis. Ferritin and LDL show a synergistic adverse association with cardiovascular disease and death. Iron promotes oxidation, resulting in death of the nerve cells and is implicated in Parkinson's disease. Vitamin E and selenium protect the heart from iron toxicity.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Isoflavones

(Use standardized 3-7% isoflavones from Soy and Red Clover.) Enhances antioxidant enzymes in the body. Prevents skin and prostate cancer cell growth. When soy is combined with tumeric (curcumin), complete blocking of breast cancer cell growth is acheived. Quercetin and genistein are synergistic at blocking ovarian cancer cell growth.

----------------------------------------------------------------

Kava

(Must use standardized extracts 30-55% kavalactones.) Excellent results in a multicenter randomized placebo-controlled double-blind trial in anxiety disorders. Safety equivalent to placebo.

----------------------------------------------------------------

Magnesium

Serum test is highly inaccurate, intracellular stores can be depleted while serum shows normal. Diabetics have depleted intracellular levels leading to diabetic complications. Lowers blood pressure in hypertensive patients. Excellent results in treating migraine headaches. Reduces risk of cardiovascular disease. Highest levels reduce cerebrovascular disease 40%. Good results in patients with unstable angina. Reduces ventricular arrhythmias. Improves pulmonary function in asthma patients. Low magnesium levers are associated with lower HDL levels. Improves energy in chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia. Successfully relieves premenstrual mood changes. Improves peripheral circulation and has a beneficial effect on the visual field in glaucoma patients with vasospasm. Children with ADHD experienced a significant decrease in hyperactivity after 6 months of magnesium supplementation.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Malic Acid

Nutrient utilized in the Krebs cycle for energy production. A well-done study indicates benefits for fibromyalgia when combined with magnesium.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

N-acetylcysteine

Powerful antioxidant. Treatment of choice for acetaminophen toxicity. Reduces severity of ischemic/reperfusion liver injury. Some protective effect for cataract formation. May be of value in various pulmonary disorders including respiratory distress syndrome.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Potassium

Numerous studies indicates lowering of blood pressure in hypertensive patients. Reverses QT prolongation in patients. Reduces cardiac arrhythmias. Hypertensive patients prescribed non-potassium sparing diuretics have double the risk of sudden cardiac death due to potassium loss.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Probiotics

(Lactobacillus acidophilus & bifidobacterium) Prevents or controls intestinal infections. Prevents recurrent candidal vaginitis and bacterial vaginosis. Reduces colonic inflammatory infiltration. Reverses gastrointestinal complaints in patients on broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy. Improves digestion. Lowers cholesterol levels. Exerts potential anticarcinogenic activity.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Quercetin

Powerful antioxidant activity. Inhibits LDL oxidation. Produces growth inhibition and cytotoxicity in human breast, ovarian, leukemic, gastric and colon cancer cells. Protects cells from oxidation induced by iron.

----------------------------------------------------------------

Red Wine Extract

(Use standardized 30% polyphenol extract.) Protects against heart disease by inhibiting LDL oxidation and platelet aggregation. Reduces risk of death from all causes by 49% including cardiovascular and cerebrovascular. Has antimicrobial effects against salmonella, shigella and Escherichia coli.

--------------------------------------------------------------

S-Adenosylmethionine (SAM)

Severely depressed levels are found in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease patients. Crosses blood brain barrier and acts as a protective antioxidant. Excellent results in patients with depression compared to drugs. Excellent results in osteoarthritis compared to drugs with no side effects. Positive results in fibromyalgia in a double blind study. Good results in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study in the treatment of intrahepatic cholestasis.

 

---------------------------------------------------------------

Selenium

An essential trace mineral, key co-factor in the glutathione peroxidase enzyme system (natural free radical inhibitor). Large double-blinded, placebo controlled study done in the United States reported that 200 mcg a day of selomethionine reduced cancer incidence by 37% and cancer mortality by 50%. Another study noted a decreased incidence of prostate cancer by up to 65% in individuals with the highest selenium blood levels. Selenium also seems to have some protective effect with viral infections including HIV.

----------------------------------------------------------------

St. John's Wort

This herbal nutrient has been used for hundreds of years showing benefit for treatment of mild to moderate depression. It may also have some anti-viral properties as well. Although much emphasis has been placed on the hypericin component, the active component of St. John's Wort appears to be hyperforin. Hyperforin is not only the major lipophilic chemical constituent of St. John's wort, but is also a potent uptake inhibitor of serotonin, dopamine, noradrenaline, GABA and L-glutamate. St. John’s Wort products should be standardized to contain 3 to 5 % hyperforin.

----------------------------------------------------------------

Taurine

This amino acid has been shown in studies to have beneficial effects for cardiovascular disease. In vitro study showed decreased platelet aggregation in diabetic pts. May improve insulin sensitivity. Effective for treating fatty livers in obese children.

----------------------------------------------------------------

Tumeric

Powerful antioxidant in laboratory studies has inhibited cancer cell growth. Also has a beneficial anti-inflammatory effect. Recent studies indicate that when used with quercetin can reduce ischemia reperfusion renal injury and may represent a new class of reno-protective agents.

----------------------------------------------------------------

Vitamin B

These water soluble vitamins are important co-factors in carbohydrate metabolism, energy production and nerve function. Thiamine at 200 mg a day in patients on furosemide therapy with CHF improved cardiac input by 22% in a matter of six weeks. Elevated homocysteine levels have been found to be an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease. This can be effectively treated with adequate doses of folic acid, B6 and B12. A recent study indicates that individuals with the highest folic acid intake had a reduced risk of colon cancer by about 75%. Vitamin B6 is important for proper immune and nervous system function, gluconeogenesis, niacin formation as well as red cell formation and metabolism and hormone modulation. Vitamin B6 has also shown beneficial effects in the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome, premenstrual syndrome and other conditions. Niacin is well known to have a beneficial effect on lowering serum cholesterol. A recent study indicates that high doses of riboflavin can be an effective migraine prophylactic.

----------------------------------------------------------------

Vitamin C

(Best form is Ester-C® in the range of 500 to 2000 mg daily) Important anti-oxidant function. Involved in collagen metabolism, carnitine and catecholamine biosynthesis along with iron metabolism and histamine catabolism. Innumerable studies showing benefits for heart disease, hypertension, inhibition of LDL oxidation, cancer, cataracts, asthma, wound healing, etc. Controversial report in medical journal indicated possible pro-oxidant effects of vitamin C although study was flawed and subsequent review indicates probable lab error.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Vitamin E

A powerful anti-oxidant preventing lipid peroxidation and inhibition of multiple free radicals. Two thousand patient, double-blinded placebo controlled study using 400 to 800 IU daily reduced non-fatal heart attack by 77% over placebo. Other studies in premiere journals indicated benefit for immunity, diabetes, cancer, Alzheimer's disease, etc. Extremely important to get not only alpha but also gamma tocopherol (only gamma tocopherol will inhibit the dangerous free radical peroxynitrite).

----------------------------------------------------------------

Zinc

(Best form is zinc monomethionine.) Involved in over two hundred enzymatic reactions in the body. Critical for immune function, wound healing, and sexual and sensory functions. Beneficial effects have been demonstrated for macular degeneration, pregnancy outcome and immune function.