Exposing the Antioxidant Supplement Myth
Submitted by roybutler on Wed, 10/07/2009 - 21:33
Below are some excerpts from CV#690.
Herbert V. The antioxidant supplement myth. Am J Clin Nutr
1994;60:157-8 The complete article is at http://www.victorherbert.com/AntioxidACN.htm#2.
Herbert V. The antioxidant supplement myth. Am J Clin Nutr
1994;60:157-8 The complete article is at http://www.victorherbert.com/AntioxidACN.htm#2.
The
nutrition buzzword for 1994 is antioxidant Every supplement so labeled is
seen as having only an upside and no down‚side. This is a myth. No supplement is
a pure antioxidant.
nutrition buzzword for 1994 is antioxidant Every supplement so labeled is
seen as having only an upside and no down‚side. This is a myth. No supplement is
a pure antioxidant.
At the November 1ó3, 1993 Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) Conference on Antioxidant Vitamins in Cancer and
Cardiovascular Disease (1), there was essentially unanimous
agreement that vitamins C, E, and b-carotene
are mischaracterized by describing them solely as ìantioxidantsî (fighters
against harm‚ful free radicals). They in fact are redox agents, antioxidant in
some circumstances (often so in the physiologic quantities found in food), and
prooxidant (producing billions of harmful free radicals) in other circumstances
(often so in the pharmacologic quantities found in supplements).
Administration (FDA) Conference on Antioxidant Vitamins in Cancer and
Cardiovascular Disease (1), there was essentially unanimous
agreement that vitamins C, E, and b-carotene
are mischaracterized by describing them solely as ìantioxidantsî (fighters
against harm‚ful free radicals). They in fact are redox agents, antioxidant in
some circumstances (often so in the physiologic quantities found in food), and
prooxidant (producing billions of harmful free radicals) in other circumstances
(often so in the pharmacologic quantities found in supplements).
Excessive antioxidant action can
adversely affect key physiological processes (1). Pharmacologic amounts of
ìantioxidantî vitamins have chemical actions that are neither antioxidant nor
prooxidant (1, 2). For example, protection by
pharmacologic amounts of vitamin E against heart attacks may have more to do
with the prohemorrhagic action of megadoses of vitamin E and, being
prohemorrhagic, in some circumstances vitamin E may promote excessive bleeding
(2, 3, 4).
adversely affect key physiological processes (1). Pharmacologic amounts of
ìantioxidantî vitamins have chemical actions that are neither antioxidant nor
prooxidant (1, 2). For example, protection by
pharmacologic amounts of vitamin E against heart attacks may have more to do
with the prohemorrhagic action of megadoses of vitamin E and, being
prohemorrhagic, in some circumstances vitamin E may promote excessive bleeding
(2, 3, 4).
Large doses of vitamin E enhance immune
activity and thus may promote progression of immune and autoimmune diseases (eg,
asthma, food allergy, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and
lupus) (5). Large
doses of vitamin C can promote kidney stones (2).
activity and thus may promote progression of immune and autoimmune diseases (eg,
asthma, food allergy, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and
lupus) (5). Large
doses of vitamin C can promote kidney stones (2).
Vitamin C is especially dangerous in the
presence of high body iron stores, which make vitamin C violently prooxidant (1, 6, 7). For genetic reasons
(7), more than 10% of American whites and perhaps as many as
30% of American blacks have high body iron
presence of high body iron stores, which make vitamin C violently prooxidant (1, 6, 7). For genetic reasons
(7), more than 10% of American whites and perhaps as many as
30% of American blacks have high body iron
___________________________________________________________________________________________
The induction of human superoxide dismutase and catalase in vivo: A fundamentally new approach to antioxidant therapy
The reason this article is so important is that the research by Dr. Joe McCord at the University of Colorado
Watch the interview of Dr. McCord on ABC Primetime: HERE
Protandim a composition consisting of extracts of five widely studied medicinal plants (Protandim) was administered to healthy human subjects ranging in age from 20 to 78 years. Individual ingredients were selected on the basis of published findings of induction of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and/or catalase in rodents in vivo, combined with evidence of decreasing lipid peroxidation. Each ingredient was present at a dosage sufficiently low to avoid any accompanying unwanted pharmacological effects.
Blood was analyzed before supplementation and after 30 and 120 days of supplementation (675 g/day). Erythrocytes were assayed for SOD and catalase, and plasma was assayed for lipid peroxidation products as thiobarbituric acid-reacting substances (TBARS), as well as uric acid, C-reactive protein, and cholesterol (total, LDL, and HDL). Beforesupplementation, TBARS showed a strong ge-dependent increase. After 30 days of supplementation, TBARS declined by an average of 40% ( p = 0.0001) and the age-dependent increase was eliminated. By 120 days, erythrocyte SOD increased by 30% ( p < 0.01) and catalase by 54% ( p < 0.002). We conclude that modest induction of the catalytic antioxidants SOD and catalase may be a much more effective approach than supplementation with antioxidants (such as vitamins C and E and reservitrol) that can, at best, stoichiometrically scavenge a very small fraction of total oxidant production.
Oxidative stress is now recognized to be associated with more than 200 diseases, as well as with the normal aging process. In nearly all cases it is not clear whether the role is a causative one or whether the oxidative damage is simply asequela of other types of tissue injury. The primary tools available to probe this question have been supplementation with exogenous antioxidants such as vitamins C and E, carotenoids, and a long list of other compounds capable of reacting stoichiometrically with reactive oxygen species such as superoxide and hydrogen peroxide. The results of studies with supplemental antioxidants have been quite disappointing overall. For example, a compelling amount of evidence has led to the ‘‘oxidative hypothesis’’ of atherosclerosis [1,2], yet randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies such as the HOPE and HOPE-TOO trials have concluded that vitamin E supplementation does not prevent cancer or major cardiovascular events and may, in fact, increase the risk for heart failure [3,4]. A similar situation exists for diabetes, in that despite the undeniable presence of substantial oxidative stress, attempts totreat the disease by supplementation with antioxidants have failed to produce any significant improvement [5].
Because polyunsaturated fatty acids are easy targets for oxidants, and because the process of lipid peroxidation is, once initiated, a self-sustaining free radical chain process, the accumulation of lipid peroxidation products provides the most
common biochemical marker of oxidative stress. There is strong correlation between thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) as a marker of lipid peroxidation and products that reflect oxidative damage to DNA [6]. However, in normal healthy men who have low intake of fruits and vegetables, and who might be further stressed by smoking, and who have measurable levels of oxidative stress, a moderate supplement of vitamins E, C, and folic acid produced no alteration in measures of oxidant damage [7]. Similarly, studies that have used
supplementation with a concentrate of fruits and vegetables [8] or the daily intake of 600 g of fruits and vegetables [9] have produced no effects on markers of oxidative damage to lipids or DNA. Thus, reasonable intakes of exogenous
stoichiometric scavengers of oxidants fail to inhibit lipid peroxidation significantly.This study has taken a different approach: the induction of endogenous antioxidant enzymes. The antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase, by virtue of their ability to catalyze the disproportionation reactions of their substrates superoxide radical and hydrogen peroxide, respectively, have an enormous theoretical advantage over exogenous
antioxidants that are stoichiometrically consumed. There are published reports of at least 30 different botanical extracts or purified phytochemicals that when ingested by mammals result in increased activities of SOD and catalase, with
concomitant decreases in plasma TBARS indicative of decreased lipid peroxidation, which has come to be synonymous with decreased oxidative stress. It is assumed that these substances act primarily by direct induction of SOD and catalase and that this results in decreased oxidative stress.
common biochemical marker of oxidative stress. There is strong correlation between thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) as a marker of lipid peroxidation and products that reflect oxidative damage to DNA [6]. However, in normal healthy men who have low intake of fruits and vegetables, and who might be further stressed by smoking, and who have measurable levels of oxidative stress, a moderate supplement of vitamins E, C, and folic acid produced no alteration in measures of oxidant damage [7]. Similarly, studies that have used
supplementation with a concentrate of fruits and vegetables [8] or the daily intake of 600 g of fruits and vegetables [9] have produced no effects on markers of oxidative damage to lipids or DNA. Thus, reasonable intakes of exogenous
stoichiometric scavengers of oxidants fail to inhibit lipid peroxidation significantly.This study has taken a different approach: the induction of endogenous antioxidant enzymes. The antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase, by virtue of their ability to catalyze the disproportionation reactions of their substrates superoxide radical and hydrogen peroxide, respectively, have an enormous theoretical advantage over exogenous
antioxidants that are stoichiometrically consumed. There are published reports of at least 30 different botanical extracts or purified phytochemicals that when ingested by mammals result in increased activities of SOD and catalase, with
concomitant decreases in plasma TBARS indicative of decreased lipid peroxidation, which has come to be synonymous with decreased oxidative stress. It is assumed that these substances act primarily by direct induction of SOD and catalase and that this results in decreased oxidative stress.
For more information about these studies and others that support the invention Protandim contact Roy Butler at roy@live-young.ws
Also listen to the interview on WOR radio of Dr. Carlon Colker
Carlon Colker is the head trainer for Shaqiulle Oneal, UFC
Champion Quinton "Rampage" Jakson, Diego Sanchez, Andre Aggasi, just
to name a few and many more high profile athletes, celebrities and world
olympians. I spoke with Dr. Colker inSan
Diego
told me that he's definitely recommending Protandim to all
his athletes and clients. He stated that, the less oxidative stress we have in
our bodies, the faster our bodies can recover from intense workouts, games,
matches and performances!!
Champion Quinton "Rampage" Jakson, Diego Sanchez, Andre Aggasi, just
to name a few and many more high profile athletes, celebrities and world
olympians. I spoke with Dr. Colker in
Diego
told me that he's definitely recommending Protandim to all
his athletes and clients. He stated that, the less oxidative stress we have in
our bodies, the faster our bodies can recover from intense workouts, games,
matches and performances!!
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