Antioxidants – A Boon of A Bane- An Update

DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.13005/bbra/1148

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Antioxidants are substances or agents that scavenge reactive oxygen metabolites, block their generation or enhance endogenous antioxidant capabilities. Toxic oxygen metabolites have emerged as a major pathology of tissue injury in a wide variety of diseases. This is because many constituents of the cell are potentially subjected to free radical attack. Antioxidants may be considered as the scavengers of these free radicals. We live in an age in which millions of people worldwide take antioxidants to supplement their diet under the belief that these will help to maintain good health and ward off illness. Although some studies have suggested antioxidant supplements have health benefits, other large clinical trials did not detect any benefit for the formulations tested, and excess supplementation may occasionally be harmful. This article will be discussing in detail whether antioxidants are a boon or bane to us.

Antioxidants; Free radicals; Reactive oxygen species; Carcinogenesis