NUTRITIONAL ANTIOXIDANTS

Definition of nutritional antioxidant:

By nutritionist/biologist:

"compounds that protect biological systems
against the potentially harmful effects
of processes or reactions
that can cause excessive oxidations"
-By Krinsky, 1992

Requirements for a biological antioxidant

• Absorbed through intestine
• Transported to site of action
• Low toxicity

Main diet-dependent ones:

• Vitamin E (lipid soluble)
• Vitamin C (water soluble)

Also copper, selenium, zinc, manganese, and iron are required for antioxidant enzymes.

Other possible antioxidants:

NON-NUTRITIONAL

Compounds with antioxidant properties are also added to food items for preservation.

See more on non-nutritional antioxidants in the menu items to the left.