Pill Overkill

What Are Antioxidants?

Antioxidants, simply put, are the scavengers of free radicals, which are a by-product of oxidation, or the process by which the body converts food into energy. Excess free radicals can also exist in the body as a result of habits like smoking and drinking, as well as environmental influences like smog, toxins, pesticides, radiation and over-exposure to the sun, says Dr Pallavi Vaish, a dietician at Healing Touch, a healthcare clinic.

These free radicals can be ‘‘very harmful because they may play a role in promotion or initiation of certain cancers, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), cataracts and degenerative diseases of the central nervous stystem,’’ adds Dr Suresh Gupta, a professor of pharmacology at AIIMS. Free radicals also speed up the ageing process.

Antioxidants neutralise free radicals, and are therefore supposed to help in the fight against ageing and lifestyle-related diseases. Usually, a healthy diet meets the body’s requirement for antioxidants, but increasingly, due to diet modifications and irregular eating habits, antioxidants in the form of capsules and gels are getting popular.

What Are The Popular Antioxidants?

Betacarotene: The body uses betacarotene to make vitamin A which boosts the immune system, improves skin quality and prevents dryness. It’s also supposed to reduce the risk of cancer. Carrots are the most common source of betacarotene.

Vitamin C: Found in most juicy fruits and vegetables, vitamin C increases the body’s resistance to polluting agents and helps manufacture white blood cells. It reduces certain allergies and is known to help in the treatment of asthma. Studies have also indicated that vitamin C helps reduce the risk of cancer, hypertension and CVDs.

Vitamin E: Known as the foundation of youth, it’s the darling of skin cream manufacturers. Vitamin E also reduces the risk of coronary artery disease and protects blood vessels.

What Are Antioxidant Pills?

Antioxidant pills are usually combinations of these antioxidant vitamins, sold as capsules or gels. Manufactured in India by companies like Parry’s and Glaxo, or imported, antioxidants don’t come cheap. A strip of 30 gel capsules, for instance, can cost anything between Rs 50-200.

Are There Any Side Effects?

In high doses, vitamins may cause more harm than good. For instance, vitamin E may cause diarrhoea, abdominal pain, fatigue and weakness. It’s also been reported to impair muscular performance in animals, which is why athletes should be careful about its inclusion in their diets. Prolonged use of vitamin C in high doses may actually cause oxidation. Dr R N Kalra, a cardiologist, feels that ‘‘patients with heart disease may be blunting the effects of cholesterol-lowering drugs with antioxidant supplements.’’

Doctors Have The Last Word

Doctors remain apprehensive about indiscriminate antioxidant pill popping. Dipendra Kaur, a dietician at Health Total, a health clinic, says that a diet of pills cannot be sustained and ‘‘it’s high time we look at our food as medicines.’’ Also, antioxidant pills, if you don’t need them, can prove to be an unnecessary expense for the patient, so doctors advise it’s better to go for a check-up first. As popular dietician Shikha Sharma says, ‘‘antioxidants, to a great extent, satisfy only the psychological aspect of a disease. In any case, it’s just a temporary measure.’’ Obviously, it’s a psychological need that’s being happily met by companies, given there are nearly 12 domestic manufacturers supplying antioxidants in the market.

It’s important to remember that natural foods contain all the nutrition the body needs, and all it takes is careful planning of your diet. Supplements, whether antioxidant pills or dietary herbal supplements can never replace a diet rich in vitamins and minerals.