DO NOT supplement with antioxidants. Not medical advice.

Summary

Some studies suggest antioxidant supplementation may increase mortality, interfere with exercise benefits, and be harmful in well-nourished populations, while other studies indicate it can improve outcomes during chemotherapy.

Introduction

It’s rare to have negative connotations attached to the word supplementation; however, I was genuinely shocked in my quest to find out what the science says about antioxidants (amazing molecules).

Antioxidant supplementation has been widely promoted for its potential health benefits, including preventing chronic diseases and mitigating oxidative stress. However, recent research has raised concerns about the potential adverse effects of antioxidant supplements, particularly in certain populations and under specific conditions.

Key Insights

• Increased Mortality Risk:

  • Antioxidant supplements, particularly beta-carotene and vitamin E have been associated with an increased mortality risk in healthy individuals and those with various diseases.

  • Higher doses of vitamin A may also increase mortality.

• Cancer Treatment Interference:

  • The impact of antioxidant supplementation during cancer treatment is unclear, with some studies suggesting it may interfere with the efficacy of chemotherapy and radiotherapy by scavenging reactive oxygen species necessary for the treatment's cytotoxic effects.

  • However, other studies have found no significant decrease in treatment efficacy, indicating a need for more research.

• Gender-Specific Effects:

  • Antioxidant supplementation has been associated with an increased risk of skin cancer, particularly melanoma, in women.

  • The beneficial effects observed in men during supplementation, such as reduced cancer incidence and mortality, were not sustained after stopping the supplements.

• Exercise Training:

  • Antioxidant supplementation during exercise training may blunt the positive effects of exercise-induced adaptations, such as improved muscle function and insulin signalling, by interfering with reactive oxygen species that play a role in these processes.

  • This was fascinating, especially if you understand or want to learn about specific exercise-induced adaptations the body undergoes. I suggest reading further on this if interested!

• Lack of Preventive Benefits:

  • There is no evidence to support the use of antioxidant supplements to prevent chronic diseases, including cancer and cardiovascular diseases.

  • Antioxidant supplementation does not prevent gastrointestinal cancers and may increase overall mortality.

• Metabolic Syndrome:

  • Long-term antioxidant supplementation did not affect the risk of developing metabolic syndrome, although higher baseline serum concentrations of certain antioxidants were associated with a lower risk.

• Age-Related Cataract:

  • Antioxidant vitamin supplementation does not prevent or slow the progression of age-related cataracts.

Conclusion

The current body of research suggests that antioxidant supplementation can have adverse effects, particularly in increasing mortality and potentially interfering with cancer treatments. The benefits of antioxidant supplements for preventing chronic diseases, improving exercise performance, and reducing the risk of metabolic syndrome or age-related cataracts are not supported by evidence. Therefore, it is advisable to obtain antioxidants through a balanced diet rather than supplements, especially in well-nourished populations.

Sources:

1. G. Bjelakovic et al. "Antioxidant supplements for prevention of mortality in healthy participants and patients with various diseases.." The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 3 (2012): CD007176 .

2. A. Yasueda et al. "Efficacy and Interaction of Antioxidant Supplements as Adjuvant Therapy in Cancer Treatment." Integrative Cancer Therapies, 15 (2016): 17 - 39.

3. Keith I Block et al. "Impact of antioxidant supplementation on chemotherapeutic efficacy: a systematic review of the evidence from randomized controlled trials.." Cancer treatment reviews, 33 5 (2007): 407-18 .

4. G. Bjelakovic et al. "Antioxidant supplements and mortality." Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care, 17 (2013): 40–44.

5. S. Hercberg et al. "Antioxidant supplementation increases the risk of skin cancers in women but not in men.." The Journal of nutrition, 137 9 (2007): 2098-105 .

6. T. Peternelj et al. "Antioxidant Supplementation during Exercise Training." Sports Medicine, 41 (2011): 1043-1069.

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