Are Antioxidant Supplements Worth It?

Antioxidant supplements are often touted as a means of preventing disease and fighting the negative effects of aging. Antioxidant supplements may include a number of different free-radical-fighting compounds.

Antioxidants are substances that help knock out free radicals—chemical by-products known to damage cells and contribute to the development of certain diseases. Antioxidants are found naturally in a number of foods.

Vitamins in Antioxidant Supplements

Antioxidant supplements often contain the following substances, all of which are considered antioxidants:

• Beta-carotene
• Lutein
• Lycopene
• Selenium
• Vitamin A
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin E

Benefits 

While research shows that a diet high in antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables can help protect against disease, it remains unclear whether antioxidant supplements are equally effective in disease prevention.

Potential Downsides

There have been some studies indicating that antioxidant supplements may pose some health risks. Here’s a look at several of those study findings:

1) Cancer

Regular intake of supplements containing beta-carotene may increase cancer incidence and cancer deaths among smokers, according to a systematic review and meta-analysis published in 2008. The same report also showed that selenium supplementation may have cancer-fighting effects in men, while vitamin E supplementation had no effect on cancer incidence and mortality.

2) Cancer Therapy

In a report published in 2008, researchers cautioned that cancer patients should avoid the use of antioxidant supplements during radiation and chemotherapy. According to the report’s authors, antioxidant supplements may reduce the anticancer effects of therapy.

3) Risk of Death

Taking antioxidant supplements containing beta-carotene, vitamin E, and vitamin A may be linked to an increased risk of death, according to a 2007 review and meta-analysis of 68 trials including a total of 232,606 participants. Although no increased mortality risk was associated with vitamin C supplementation, researchers didn’t find any evidence that vitamin C supplements increased longevity either. Selenium supplementation, meanwhile, appeared to reduce the risk of death.

Need for Further Research

Some medical experts argue that studies showing a potential health risk for antioxidant supplements have been flawed in design. For instance, after the publication of the 2007 review and meta-analysis linking antioxidant supplements to an increased risk of death, researchers from the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University released a statement arguing that the study is “ignores the broad totality of evidence that comes to largely opposite conclusions.”

The statement’s authors also note that intake of antioxidants from foods or supplements has been shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, some types of cancer, eye disease, and neurodegenerative disease (as well as strengthen the immune system).

Taking Antioxidant Supplements

For help in boosting your antioxidant consumption, start by adding more antioxidant-rich foods to your diet.