Role of Antioxidants in Prevention of Diseases

Free radicals are responsible for causing pathogenesis of healthy cells to lose their structures and functions to develop various degenerative diseases that caused due to aging such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, cataracts, immune system decline, brain dysfunction as well as illness caused due to pollution, cigarette smoke, drugs, illness, stress. So, many dieticians believe that the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for specific antioxidants may be required to live healthy lifestyle with having well-balanced, wholesome diet and adequate antioxidant supplementation. A balanced diet including plenty of fruit, vegetables, grains, oils and nuts have excellent complement of antioxidants such as vitamin E, beta-carotene, vitamin C and lipoic acid which have their protective effect by decreasing oxidative damage to DNA and by Although, antioxidants are generally regarded as safe compounds, but even at high concentrations, they may generated reactive species which can have a pro-oxidant effect [1]. Antioxidant enzymes also have an important role in the detoxification of free radicals such as superoxide dismutase, catalyse, and glutathione peroxidase which scavenge free radicals. Decrease in antioxidant defence system or an overproduction of free radicals results in oxidative stress was found to contribute many aging induced diseases. Therapies based on both antioxidants and antioxidant enzymes can be an effective approach in preventing or treating many diseases.