Blog
Save
Email
Print
ShareAn antioxidant is a chemical that reduces the rate of particular oxidation reactions in a specific context, where oxidation reactions are chemical reactions that involve the transfer of electrons from a substance to an oxidizing agent, this generally results in different chemicals to the original ones. Antioxidants are particularly important in the context of organic chemistry and biology.
See also:
All living organisms maintain a reducing environment inside their cells, all cells contain complex systems of antioxidants to prevent chemical damage to the cells' components by oxidation.
These antioxidants include glutathione and ascorbic acid and are substrates for enzymes such as peroxidases and oxidoreductases. Antioxidants are widely used as ingredients in dietary supplements used for health purposes such as preventing cancer and heart disease.
Studies have suggested antioxidant supplements has benefits for health, but several large clinical trials did not demonstrate a definite benefit for the formulations tested, and excess supplementation may even be harmful. Dietary supplementation has few specific antioxidants compared to a broad diet rich in phytonutrients, which will yield thousands of different polyphenol antioxidants available for metabolism.
For more information about the topic Antioxidant, read the full article at Wikipedia.org, or see the following related articles:
Polyphenol antioxidant — A polyphenol antioxidant is a type of antioxidant characterized by the presence of several phenol functions. In human health these compounds, ... > read more
Radical (chemistry) — In chemistry, radicals (often referred to as free radicals) are atomic or molecular species with unpaired electrons on an otherwise open shell ... > read more
Redox — Redox reactions include all chemical processes in which atoms have their oxidation number (oxidation state) changed. Substances that have the ability ... > read more
Vitamin E — Tocopherol, or Vitamin E, is a fat-soluble vitamin in eight forms that is an important antioxidant. Vitamin E is often used in skin creams and ... > read more
Ischaemic heart disease — Ischaemic (or ischemic) heart disease is a disease characterized by reduced blood supply to the heart. It is the most common cause of death in most ... > read more
Essential nutrient — An essential nutrient is a nutrient required for normal body functioning that can not be synthesized by the body. Categories of essential nutrient ... > read more
Whole grain — Whole grains are cereal grains which retain the bran and germ as well as the endosperm, in contrast to refined grains which retain only the ... > read more
Isoflavone — Isoflavones are a class of organic compounds and biomolecules related to the flavonoids. They are acting as phytoestrogens that are thought of by ... > read more
Chlorophyll — Chlorophyll is a green photosynthetic pigment found in plants, algae, and cyanobacteria. Chlorophyll absorbs mostly in the blue and to a lesser ... > read more
Editor's Note: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Recommend this page on Facebook, Twitter,
and Google +1:
Other bookmarking and sharing tools:
more 