Reference Terms
from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Antioxidant
An 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. 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.
Related Stories
1
2
Health & Medicine News
March 6, 2026
Mar. 6, 2026 A Rutgers-led study found that eating less protein may help slow liver cancer in people with impaired liver function. When damaged livers can’t properly clear toxic ammonia from protein metabolism, the excess ammonia can feed tumor growth. In ...
Mar. 6, 2026 Researchers created an AI-driven liquid biopsy that scans patterns in fragments of DNA circulating in the blood. The system detected early liver fibrosis and cirrhosis—conditions that often go unnoticed until serious damage occurs. By analyzing ...
Mar. 5, 2026 Scientists have uncovered new genetic rules that determine whether the immune system’s “killer” T cells remain powerful long-term defenders or become worn out and ineffective. By building a ...
Mar. 5, 2026 Scientists have uncovered a crucial weakness in the malaria parasite that could open the door to new treatments. Researchers identified a protein called Aurora-related kinase 1 (ARK1) that acts like a traffic controller during the parasite’s ...
Mar. 4, 2026 A new experimental drug is showing remarkable promise for children with Dravet syndrome, a severe genetic form of epilepsy. In clinical trials, the treatment zorevunersen cut seizures by as much as 91% while also improving quality of life for many ...
Mar. 4, 2026 Popular weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro may do more than help people shed pounds. New research suggests these GLP-1 medications could also help protect the heart after a heart ...
Mar. 4, 2026 Daily aspirin does not reliably prevent bowel cancer in people at average risk, according to a major new review. Any potential protective effect may take more than a decade to appear — if it ...
Mar. 4, 2026 Stiff knees and aching hips may seem like an inevitable part of aging, but experts say we’re getting osteoarthritis all wrong. Despite affecting nearly 600 million people worldwide — and ...
Mar. 4, 2026 A sweeping new study reveals that what’s on your plate may directly shape the pesticides circulating in your body. Researchers found that people who eat more fruits and vegetables known to carry higher pesticide residues—such as strawberries, ...
Mar. 4, 2026 Researchers at Kobe University have developed an AI system that can detect acromegaly, a rare hormone disorder, by analyzing photos of the back of the hand and a clenched fist. The disease often develops slowly and can take years to diagnose, even ...
Mar. 3, 2026 A new study has uncovered why some brain cells are more resistant to Alzheimer’s damage than others. Researchers found a natural cleanup system that helps remove toxic tau protein before it can form harmful clumps. The study also shows that ...
Mar. 3, 2026 Scientists have uncovered a surprising new hero in the fight against one of the world’s deadliest fungal infections: albumin, the most abundant protein in human blood. In a major international study, researchers found that people who develop ...
Latest Headlines
updated 12:56 pm ET
Mar. 3, 2026 When a bone break is too severe to heal on its own, surgeons often rely on grafts or rigid metal implants — but both come with serious drawbacks. Now, researchers at ETH Zurich have created a ...
Mar. 3, 2026 Scientists have identified a crucial molecular switch that decides whether pancreatic cancer cells resist chemotherapy or respond to it. The key ...
Mar. 2, 2026 Surviving cancer at a young age may come with an unexpected cost: faster aging at both the cellular and brain levels. Researchers found that survivors often show signs of being biologically older ...
Mar. 2, 2026 Researchers are developing a two-part therapy for type 1 diabetes: lab-made insulin-producing cells paired with custom-engineered immune cells that protect them. The goal is to stop the immune system ...
Mar. 2, 2026 As millions turn to ChatGPT and other AI chatbots for therapy-style advice, new research from Brown University raises a serious red flag: even when instructed to act like trained therapists, these ...
Mar. 2, 2026 A tiny wireless implant is giving new hope to people blinded by advanced age-related macular degeneration. In a major international clinical trial, more than 80% of participants regained meaningful ...
Mar. 2, 2026 Polyamines—natural molecules found in every living cell—have become stars in the longevity world for their ability to boost cellular cleanup and support healthy aging. But there’s a dark twist: ...
Mar. 1, 2026 Scientists have uncovered a powerful genetic switch that helps some of the body’s most important immune cells grow up properly and keep our organs healthy. The switch, called MafB, guides immature ...
Mar. 1, 2026 Scientists in Brazil have transformed cocoa waste into a functional chocolate-infused honey packed with antioxidants and natural stimulants. Using ultrasound waves, they enhanced honey’s ability to ...
Mar. 1, 2026 Scientists at Rice University have produced the first full, dye-free molecular atlas of an Alzheimer’s brain. By combining laser-based imaging with ...