Could Taking Antioxidants Become a Concern to Good Health?

Abstract

With all the hype surrounding antioxidants and vitamins in general, many important facts have been overlooked. Some vitamins can be toxic in large quantities, and therapeutic doses of vitamins may provide no greater effect than eating healthy food or taking regular supplement doses. Although there are positive studies regarding supplementation, some of the best and most recent research is showing lack of positive effect and possible detrimental effict of mega doses of vitamins. The industry of “vitamin pushers” would have the public believe that not only are vitamins necessary for normal health, but they also cure and prevent ailments as serious as cancer. Is it true?

Some of the new and most disturbing facts about antioxidants include some discoveries such as: vitamin E, vitamin A, and beta carotene may actually promote cancer, heart disease, and stroke. Vitamin C has been shown to promote kidney stones, destroy vitamin B12, and worsen diabetes and diabetic cataracts. Vitamin C also is linked to production of billions of free radicals (when combined with body ferritin stores of ferrous iron) instead of absorption. The key seems to be to think of vitamins and antioxidants in terms of health and moderation, not miracle cures.