1. Antioxidants-Fight For Your Health
Erin Bostic and Ariel Chachoff

2. Objectives Understand what antioxidants are and how they
help fight chronic disease
Learn what types of foods contain antioxidants
Bioavailability of antioxidants
Comprehend the roles of Vitamins C and E their
roles in fighting cancer and why they are
such important antioxidants
Understand the pros and the cons of antioxidant supplements

3. What Are Antioxidants? Substances that help protect us against damage
caused by free radicals and are a stabilizer for
those free radicals
Free radicals are molecules that have an
electron shell that is not complete
If the free radicals are exposed to
a substance long enough the damage is
irreversible and can lead to many chronic diseases.

4. The Start of Antioxidants (18)
Came to the attention of the public in 1990s
Scientists began to realize what free radicals
did to peoples’ bodies
“Before results from studies were in, the
media, and the supplement and food industries
began to hype up the benefits of “antioxidants”

5. What Types of foods can you find antioxidants in?
Foods with antioxidants are high in fiber
and low in saturated fat and cholesterol
Include a variety of fruits, vegetable, meat,
nuts, and oils to receive the full benefits
of antioxidants

6. What do Antioxidants help prevent?(6)
Various chronic diseases including: Cancer, Cardiovascular disease, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer's
The overall aging process
Antioxidants in sunscreen can help prevent tumor
growth by being applied before going into the sun

7. Cancer and Antioxidants(5,16,19)
Vitamin C may help protect you from cancers
like rectum, pancreas, and cervix, also breast
and lung
Vitamin A (beta-carotene) helps protect against many
cancers and the American Cancer Society claims
that it can help enhance white blood cells in
the immune system
Vitamin E helps protect against prostate and colorectal cancer

8. Cancer and Antioxidants(9)
“Many cancer patients use dietary supplements with antioxidants during or after cancer treatment.”
Antioxidants in cancer patients are able to
induce apoptosis in malignant cells

9. Diet and cancer(4) It has been said that diets containing
little fruits, vegetables, and whole grains and
more processed food and red meat can be
linked to certain cancers
Some evidence that total fat intake of more
than 30% of the total calories increases risk
for developing cancer specifically saturated fat
and trans fat

10. Diet and cancer(4) Not only can a poor diet that does not
include fruits, veggies, and whole grains cause
cancer but diabetes, CVD and other chronic diseases

11. Study on bladder cancer (26)
Study conducted that measured amount of fruit
and vegetable intake and its relevance to bladder
cancer
Found that increased fruit and vegetable intake
decreased risk for bladder cancer
Cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption were
higher and fruit and vegetable consumption were
lower among those with bladder cancer

12. Study on bladder cancer (26)
Study’s results were found to be more helpful
to women compared to men
Found that men’s chances of bladder cancer
decreased with the amount of cigarettes smoked
In men it was found that high vegetable intake
was helpful to current smokers only
In conclusion higher consumption of fruits and
vegetables decreases risk of bladder cancer in
women compared to men

13. Foods and antioxidants

14. Foods rich in antioxidants (14)
Examples of foods that contain the most antioxidants:
Dark chocolate
Red wine
Teas- green
Berries
Potatoes
Tomatoes

15. Dark Chocolate(21) Consuming cocoa can reduce cardio vascular disease
due to the antioxidant content
Taubert Study- significant decreases in systolic and
diastolic blood pressure
Work as anti-inflammatories
Increase in cerebral blood flow- possibly help with aging

16. Red Wine(22) Related to reduction of coronary heart disease (CHD)
Study: 30% reduction in risk of developing
atherosclerotic disease when drank red wine compared
to those who did not consume wine
Copenhagen Study: 13,280 patients that consumed wine showed 50% reduction in CHD risk and stroke

17. Pomegranate (27) The juice of fruit contains a high amount of
vitamin C that can provide an adult with
16% of their daily requirement
A good source of Vitamin B5, potassium, and
natural phenols
Animal studies have shown the juice scavenges
for free radicals and has two to three
times the antioxidant capacity of red wine
or green tea

18. Teas- green(23) Chinese use to treat headaches and depression
Inhibits growth of cancer cells and kills cancer cells
Effective in reducing LDL, inhibiting formation of blood clots,

19. Berries (24, 25)
Stroke prevention, age-related diseases, and cancer(24)
The more intense the color, the more
anthocyanin's the berries contain. (25)

20. The importance of Potatoes(3)
Potatoes are a great source of antioxidants
including phenolic compounds, Vitamin C, and carotenoids
A study was done to determine its
antioxidant effects on human colon cancer and
liver cancer
Study found a positive correlation between total
phenolics and activity of antioxidants of the potatoes tested

21. The importance of potatoes(3)
The study also found that different
kinds of potatoes will have different amounts
of antioxidant activity depending on the color
The white potato had a much less
anticancer effect compared to the colored varieties
The pigments and anthocyanin's within the potato
are wh help protect us from oxidation,
free radicals, and LDL cholesterol

22. Tomatoes and Antioxidants(10)
Tomatoes are rich in antioxidants such as
vitamin E, ascorbic acid, and carotenoids.
In a study, tomatoes reduced the risk
of mortality due to all of the antioxidants in them.
Depending on the type of processing a
tomato goes through, it could change the
antioxidants in them. Such as tomato juice,
paste, or even ketchup.

23. Role of lycopene (4) Lycopene is a carotenoid full of antioxidants
found in tomatoes, grapes, watermelon, oranges
and papaya
Tomatoes are the number one source
The body can absorb lycopene more efficiently
when it is in the form of juice, sauce, paste, or ketchup because it is more bioavailable

24. Role of lycopene (4)
Bioavailable= “increasing the surface area available for digestion and thus aids better absorption”
Fat soluble vitamin and therefore is better
absorbed when consumed with oil

25. Activity

26. Bioavailability

27. Bioavailability(10) An important detail when studying antioxidants
The time of which an ingested nutrient takes
to reach the systemic circulation
How much of the nutrient is able to apply the
beneficial in its target areas

28. Bioavailability of antioxidants(10)
Factors that determine bioavailability of antioxidants:
The antioxidant-such as chemical structure
Preparation of food- such as processing
Host- such as enzyme activity
External factors- such as food availability and
environmental factors

29. Bioavailability and antioxidants(15)
Increase in bioavailability: cooking the food in order
to release antioxidants from them, to increase
the surface area for absorption of the food.
Dietary fiber interrupts the bioavailability of antioxidants ingested in the body

30. Vitamins and Antioxidants

31. Vitamin a and antioxidants(5)
Helps improve vision, bone growth, reproduction, cell functions, and immune system function
Vegetarians, children, and alcoholics require extra
Vitamin A
Certain conditions require extra Vitamin A including Liver Disease, Cystic Fibrosis, and Chron’s Disease

32. Vitamin a and antioxidants(1,16)
Foods with Vitamin A include liver, sweet potatoes, carrots, milk, and egg yolks to name a few
Carotenoids are only partially absorbed from daily foods
Takes the body about 24 hours after ingestion to
fully absorb carotenoids

33. Vitamin C and antioxidants (1,5)
Play a role in your skin, bones, and connective tissue
Helps in the healing process and increases the ability
to absorb iron
People who require extra amounts of Vitamin C are pregnant/breastfeeding women, smokers, people recovering from surgery, and burn victims
Foods with Vitamin C include fruits, vegetables,
cereals, poultry, and fish

34. Vitamin c and antioxidants(16)
Well absorbed by most individuals that have low
plasma levels
The concentration of Vitamin C plasma is correlated
with the risk of CVD
Occurs highest in concentration of plasma

35. Vitamin E and antioxidants(5)
Helps your immune system and metabolic processes
People with increased needs for Vitamin E include
Liver disease, Cystic Fibrosis, and Chron’s Disease
Vitamin E supplements taken in large amounts can
be harmful to people who take blood thinners and
other kinds of medications

36. Vitamin E and antioxidants (1,6)
Foods high in Vitamin E are almonds, wheat germ,
safflower oil, corn oil, soy bean oil, mangos, nuts,
and broccoli
High consumptions of Vitamin E have been associated
with a reduction in Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)
Finnish study showed that CHD mortality decreased
in women 65% and men 32% when consumed Vitamin E

37. Vitamin C & E in research(7)
Study done on the effects of Vitamins C and E
on how they effect patients with breast cancer
undergoing chemotherapy
Reports that antioxidants show modest decreases in
side effects related to treatment

38. Vitamin C & E in research (7)
Dietary supplements of these two vitamins seemed to
help manage the oxidative stress through the course
of chemo
Chemotherapy has been known to cause peripheral
nerve damage but with administration of Vitamin E
protective effects were seen to

39. Knowledge of antioxidants

40. Knowing Antioxidants and how they work(8)
Seven things to be aware of before consuming
foods high in antioxidants and antioxidant supplements
Know the content of antioxidants in food products
consumed daily
2. How many antioxidants should one consume?
3. Are the antioxidants bioavailable?

41. Knowing Antioxidants and how they work contd.(8)
4. Antioxidants can be digested by the microflora of
the intestines before they even reach blood circulation
5. Antioxidants that do reach blood circulation can
be metabolized very quickly
6. How long do antioxidants stay in ones body?
7. The presence of oxidative stress needs to be
under control before administering antioxidant therapy

42. Antioxidant activity in your body(17)
The way to select a procedure to measure an
antioxidant is based on the intended application of the antioxidant
Can be measured by:
Its ability to donate an electron
Testing its ability to remove any source of oxidation

43. Antioxidants and supplements(28)
It was found that supplements may help lower
your risk for one cancer but increase your
risk for another cancer
This happens because different organs respond differently
to the nutrients

44. Antioxidants and supplements(28)
In one study done on 300,000 men and women
in China found that those taking Vitamin E supplements,
beta-carotene or doses of Vitamin A that exceeded
the RDA had significantly more deaths compared
to their counterparts
A study done on the effects of Beta-carotene
and Vitamin E supplements on men and women
at high risk for lung cancer

45. Antioxidants and supplements Contd.(28)
Beta-carotene+ vitamin E supplement was discontinued
two years into the study and these patients continue
solely on a vitamin E supplement
Study found that there was a 17% higher death
rate in antioxidant group compared to their
counterparts

46. Antioxidants and supplements Contd.(28)
In a second study done beta-carotene was
discontinued two years into the study and only
vitamin E supplement was taken
Study found that there was an increased risk
in a second cancer in patients who took the
vitamin E supplement
After the supplement was discontinued their risk
of a second cancer decreased to that of those
taking the placebo

47. Consequences of too much (12)
Overconsumption of antioxidants can cause more harm
than good
Examples of side effects of too much: increase
cancer risks, birth defect risks, and even chromosome breakdown
Another side effect of inadequate intake is
oxidative damage to the DNA

48. Consequences of too much (13)
Clearly stating levels for antioxidants is very
important so the consumers know the risks if
too much is ingested
A German study showed that a group of men
who exercised daily for 4 weeks with no extras
added in, saw an increase in insulin sensitivity.

49. Consequences of too much contd.(13)
Another group of men exercised for 4 weeks but
with antioxidant supplements and saw no increase
or boost at all.
Try and get antioxidants from a balanced diet,
not from supplements.

50. Conclusion In conclusion Antioxidants are substances that help
protect us from free radicals.
Vitamins A, C, E are all rich in antioxidants.
There are many types of foods that contain antioxidants:
dark chocolate, red wine, berries, tomatoes, etc.
Too many antioxidants could cause more harm
than good.

51. References
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