Antioxidant Supplements: What You Should Know

Article Summary:

• Antioxidant supplements can help fill nutritional gaps in a balanced, antioxidant-rich diet.  
• The efficacy of most antioxidant supplements is adversely affected due to the poor solubility and absorption of the active nutrients.
• Tesseract’s revolutionary nutrient delivery technology optimizes the bioavailability of the antioxidant molecules, making them a therapeutic reality.

What Are Antioxidants?

The natural and ongoing oxidation processes in the body result in the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS)/reactive nitrogen species (RNS), better known as “free radicals”. Although ROS in limited amounts is critical for cell homeostasis and redox signaling¹, the uncontrolled production and circulation of free radicals in the blood can induce oxidative modifications of key biomolecules, resulting in cellular damage and the onset of various undesirable health conditions. 

Chemically, an antioxidant is defined as a molecule that is stable enough to donate an electron to a free radical, thereby neutralizing the free radical and minimizing its capacity to damage cellular components. Antioxidants come into play by delaying or inhibiting cellular damage through their free-radical scavenging and neutralizing properties.* Antioxidants typically can safely interact with free radicals and terminate the triggered oxidative chain reaction before vital molecules are damaged.*

How Do Antioxidants Support Your Health? 

Antioxidants support health by neutralizing free radicals through diverse mechanisms, such as scavenging free radicals, donating electrons or hydrogen, and decomposing peroxides. They act as enzyme inhibitors, metal-chelating agents, and regulate gene expression, thereby protecting cells and promoting overall well-being. These combined actions make antioxidants vital for supporting joint, heart, and skin health. 

The following table summarizes the two principal mechanisms of action of antioxidants.

Antioxidants work at different levels, such as preventive, radical scavenging, repair, and adaptation, all of which strengthen the body’s defenses.

• Preventive antioxidants: As a first line of defense, preventive antioxidants suppress the formation of free radicals. These antioxidants convert hydroperoxides and hydrogen peroxide to alcohols and water without generating free radicals. 

• Radical scavengers: These antioxidants scavenge the active radicals, suppressing oxidative chain initiation and breaking the chain propagation reactions. 

• Repair and de novo antioxidants: The enzymatic antioxidants present in the cytosol and in the mitochondria of cells identify, degrade, and eliminate oxidatively modified proteins to limit the accumulation of oxidized proteins. 

• Adaptation: It is a critical function of the antioxidant defense system where cell signaling for free radical production and reaction induces the formation of the appropriate antioxidant at the required site.  

Essential Antioxidants Your Body Needs  

The antioxidant defense system includes endogenous (enzymatic and non-enzymatic) antioxidants, as well as exogenous antioxidants to counteract the pro-oxidant actions of ROS. As the names suggest, the body produces endogenous antioxidants; whereas, the diet is the primary source of exogenous antioxidants.   

Both endogenous and exogenous antioxidants² act synergistically to maintain or establish redox homeostasis. The following table highlights the critical antioxidants needed by the body. 

Since the human body cannot synthesize exogenous antioxidants, the intake of whole foods rich in naturally occurring antioxidants, including nutrients and phytochemicals, is widely recommended.   

Why You Should Include an Antioxidant Supplement in Your Diet     

In addition to a balanced and healthy diet, an antioxidant supplement can fill any nutritional gaps. It is advised to consult with your healthcare practitioner before including an antioxidant supplement in your diet. 

Although the therapeutic benefits of antioxidants are well established, their poor bioavailability and absorption can hinder their efficacy. When considering an antioxidant supplement, you should look for advanced formulations that have a nanotechnology nutrient delivery system that optimizes the bioavailability and absorption of the active antioxidant ingredients.   

The antioxidant supplements developed by Tesseract Medical Research contain potent botanical extracts known for their health benefits. The proprietary CyLoc® – DexKey® nutrient delivery system enhances the integrity of the active antioxidant nutrients as they transit through the stomach. The CyLoc® technology encases individual antioxidant molecules in its smart delivery system, and the accompanying DexKey® reactors ensure the targeted delivery of the molecules at the desired point in the intestinal tract for optimal absorption. The unprecedented absorption of an antioxidant supplement means lower amounts of active nutrients are needed for a rapid physiological response.

Citations:

¹Lobo V, et al. Free radicals, antioxidants and functional foods: Impact on human health. Pharmacognosy reviews vol. 4,8 (2010):118-126. doi:10.4103/0973-7847.70902

²Bouayed J, Bohn T. Exogenous antioxidants–Double-edged swords in cellular redox state: Health beneficial effects at physiologic doses versus deleterious effects at high doses. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity vol. 3,4 (2010):228-237. doi:10.4161/oxim.3.4.12858