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| What is the Best Antioxidant? | |
By Shane Ellison
All Rights Reserved
Courtesy of HealthFX Nutraceuticals
www.health-fx.net
The importance of supplementing your diet with an effective
antioxidant cannot be stressed enough. Research shows
that over 60 forms of disease are caused by an imbalance
among antioxidants and free radicals known as reactive
oxygen species (ROS). ROS is an umbrella term that
includes both free radicals and other chemicals that,
while not technically radicals, are damaging to the body.
Exercise, various toxins, poor diet and age increase the
abundance of ROS. To circumvent pre-mature aging and
the onset of disease, this increase in ROS must be met
with an increase in antioxidant supplementation.
An effective antioxidant fits three criteria. They are as follows:
• Active in water environment of the body
• Active in fat environment of the body
• Enhances the levels of our bodies natural antioxidant, glutathione
Unfortunately, few people are obtaining effective antioxidants.
Rather, they are utilizing vitamin E, C or fruit derived
antioxidants. Although all have their own health benefits, these
compounds do not fit the criteria mentioned above as to qualify as
an effective antioxidant.
The importance of supplementation with an effective antioxidant has
also been stressed among the scientific arena. The consensus among
scientists is that "diet supplementation with effective antioxidants
protect the mitochondria against respiration-linked oxygen stress,
with preservation of the genomic and structural integrity of these
energy producing organelles and concomitant increase in functional
life span".
In laymen's terms, this simply means that supplementation with an
effective antioxidant will ensure that you are healthy and active
into your later years, while those who are not privy to this
information will likely be playing checkers in a nursing home.
So, what is the best antioxidant?
Alpha-lipoic acid is the most effective antioxidant known to man due
to its ability to quench damaging ROS in both a water environment
and fat environment of the body. In other words, it is able to
operate both inside and outside of our cells. Additionally, alpha-
lipoic acid greatly enhances the levels of our body's natural
antioxidant, glutathione.
Glutathione's best attribute is its ability to protect us from
cancer. Additionally, glutathione depletion has been shown to be
the culprit of age-associated neurological damage. Needless to say,
any increase in glutathione is greatly warranted.
Aside from protecting us from ROS, alpha-lipoic acid offers other
health benefits. As stated by Richard A. Passwater, Ph.D., in
Lipoic Acid: The Metabolic Antioxidant:
"Both insulin-dependent and non-insulin-dependent diabetics will be
excited to learn that alpha-lipoic acid has been used for nearly 30
years in Europe to treat diabetic neuropathy, help regulate blood
sugar and prevent diabetic retinopathy and cardiopathy." Passwater
says, "Lipoic acid not only protects the nervous system, but also
may be involved in regenerating nerves. It is also being studied in
the treatment of Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease."
In summary, supplementation with 300 to 1000mg of alpha-lipoic acid
daily, protects our genetic material from damage caused by ROS and
increases glutathione levels. Combined, these benefits help to
prevent Exercise Induced Oxidative Stress and various forms of
disease such as Parkinson, Alzheimer's, hardening of the arteries,
and cancer, just to name a few! It also does wonders
for diabetics...
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Shane holds a Master's degree in organic chemistry and has first-
hand industry experience with drug research, design and synthesis.
Learn more about alpha-lipoic acid and how to obtain the purest form
very inexpensively at:
http://www.health-fx.net/cgi-bin/a/t.cgi?antioxidant
References
1. Midaoui, Adil. et al. Prevention of Hypertension, Insulin
Resistance, and Oxidative Stress by Alpha-Lipoic Acid. Hypertension
2002;39:303-307
2. Miquel, Jamie. Can Antioxidant Diet Supplementation Protect
against Age-related Mitochondrial Damage? Ann N Y Acad Sci 959;508-
516 (2002)
3. Packer, Lester. et al. Neuroprotection by the Metabolic
Antioxidant Alpha-Lipoic Acid. Free Radical Biology and Medicine,
Vol. 22, Nos. 1/2, pp. 359-378, 1997
4. Salazar, MR. Alpha Lipoic Acid: A Novel Treatment for Depression.
Med Hypotheses 2000 Dec;55(6);510-2
5. Hutleburg, Bjor. et al. Lipoic Acid Increases Glutathione
Production and Enhances the Effect of Mercury in Human Cell Lines.
Toxicology 175 (2002) 103-110
6. Arivazhagan, P. et al. Effect of DL-Alpha- Lipoic Acid on
Glutathione Metabolic Enzymes in Aged Rats. Experimental Gerontology
37 (2001) 81-87
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