The discussion centers around the possibility of artificially synthesizing antioxidants, exploring both the synthesis of known antioxidants and the creation of new molecules with antioxidant properties. Participants examine the implications of such synthesis, including safety and efficacy concerns, as well as the broader context of antioxidant supplements and their effects on health.
Participants express a range of views on the synthesis of antioxidants and the effectiveness of antioxidant supplements. There is no consensus on the health implications of antioxidant use, with some participants emphasizing potential risks while others acknowledge the theoretical possibilities of synthesis.
Limitations include uncertainties about the safety and efficacy of newly synthesized antioxidants, as well as the conflicting evidence regarding the health effects of antioxidant supplements. The discussion reflects a variety of perspectives without resolving these complexities.
I doubt it would be that significant, despite what the [strike]health[/strike]food industry advertises there is little evidence that antioxidant supplements are beneficial to health and can in fact be more harmful;Mike H said:In principle, (2) is also possible, although no one I know can guarantee that a proposed molecule would be safe and effective in humans. If they did, they'd write up how they can figure that out, gain fame and glory, and get invited to Stockholm to receive a gold medal and a nice chunk of change. In reality, one would need to test a new molecule's efficiency and safety (among other things).
Previous research on animal and physiological models suggests that antioxidant supplements have beneficial effects that may prolong life. Some observational studies also suggest that antioxidant supplements may prolong life, whereas other observational studies demonstrate neutral or harmful effects. Our Cochrane review from 2008 demonstrated that antioxidant supplements seem to increase mortality. This review is now updated.
The present systematic review included 78 randomised clinical trials. In total, 296,707 participants were randomised to antioxidant supplements (beta-carotene, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, and selenium) versus placebo or no intervention. Twenty-six trials included 215,900 healthy participants. Fifty-two trials included 80,807 participants with various diseases in a stable phase (including gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, neurological, ocular, dermatological, rheumatoid, renal, endocrinological, or unspecified diseases). A total of 21,484 of 183,749 participants (11.7%) randomised to antioxidant supplements and 11,479 of 112,958 participants (10.2%) randomised to placebo or no intervention died. The trials appeared to have enough statistical similarity that they could be combined. When all of the trials were combined, antioxidants may or may not have increased mortality depending on which statistical combination method was employed; the analysis that is typically used when similarity is present demonstrated that antioxidant use did slightly increase mortality (that is, the patients consuming the antioxidants were 1.03 times as likely to die as were the controls). When analyses were done to identify factors that were associated with this finding, the two factors identified were better methodology to prevent bias from being a factor in the trial (trials with ‘low risk of bias’) and the use of vitamin A. In fact, when the trials with low risks of bias were considered separately, the increased mortality was even more pronounced (1.04 times as likely to die as were the controls). The potential damage from vitamin A disappeared when only the low risks of bias trials were considered. The increased risk of mortality was associated with beta-carotene and possibly vitamin E and vitamin A, but was not associated with the use of vitamin C or selenium. The current evidence does not support the use of antioxidant supplements in the general population or in patients with various diseases.
CloudChamber said:Is is possible to artifically sythesize antioxidants? I'm wondering whether it is at least plausible. I'm sorry if this is the wrong section, I'm not sure where it should go.
Thanks all!
Ryan_m_b said:I doubt it would be that significant, despite what the [strike]health[/strike]food industry advertises there is little evidence that antioxidant supplements are beneficial to health and can in fact be more harmful
Ryan_m_b said:I doubt it would be that significant, despite what the [strike]health[/strike]food industry advertises there is little evidence that antioxidant supplements are beneficial to health and can in fact be more harmful;
Ryan_m_b said:I doubt it would be that significant, despite what the [strike]health[/strike]food industry advertises there is little evidence that antioxidant supplements are beneficial to health and can in fact be more harmful;
Antioxidant supplements for prevention of mortality in healthy participants and patients with various diseases
Goran Bjelakovic, Dimitrinka Nikolova, Lise Lotte Gluud, Rosa G Simonetti, Christian Gluud
Editorial Group: Cochrane Hepato-Biliary Group
Published Online: 14 MAR 2012