Artificial
antioxidants; an artificial 'safety net'
by Jeremy Green,
November 16, 11:10 PM
The goliaths of the health food industry are awfully adept
at exploiting buzz words and trendy ingredients to make their product seem
superior to the competition and antioxidants top the charts. Their rise to
power and ubiquitous presence is a product of mastering the various challenges
associated with processing, packaging and marketing food; not necessarily
because they result in a product that is truly healthful. In interest of shelf
life, cost per unit, mouth feel, and taste, many of the natural nutrients found
in a food’s primary ingredients are stripped away and lost during production.
Enter the world of fortification. By replacing lost
nutrients with artificial modifiers such as antioxidants and fiber, food
producers can have their cake and eat it too. Furthermore, supplement companies
are quick to point out that the American diet is devoid of many important
antioxidants that are necessary additives. The problem with this approach is
that antioxidants are needed in a proper balance to perform properly. Moreover,
numerous clinical studies have shown that artificial variants of these
essential nutrients do not function in the same way as their natural
counterparts.
Let’s look at a downright free-radical-eradicator like
vitamin E. Studies have repeatedly demonstrated that when consumed in high
quantities through whole foods, vitamin E greatly improves overall coronary
function and decreases the risk of having a heart attack. However, a study
published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (Liu et al., 2003)
found a huge disparity between natural and artificial vitamin E. The study
found absolutely no improvement with the same levels of supplemental vitamin E on
heart and artery function. A large meta-analysis performed by Miller et al.
(2004) at
Now let’s take a step back and look at the impact of these
studies. The American Heart Association released an official statement after
the review of several studies concluding that “using dietary supplements of
antioxidants to prevent cardiovascular disease should not be recommended.” The
US National Cancer Institute has looked very closely at the effects of
artificial antioxidant supplements and issued statements recommending against
their usage advising that they be consumed through fruits and vegetables
instead.
The largest examination of supplemental antioxidant studies
to date was performed at the
These findings have been hotly debated with strong opinions
on both sides of the argument. My stance has always been to get your
antioxidants from natural sources such as fruits and vegetables. In addition to
containing large amounts of antioxidants they are filled with fiber, polyphenols and other phytonutrients
that work in perfect harmony with your body. Besides, I have yet to read a
study that highlights the possible dangers of antioxidants in organic produce.
Sources Cited
Liu, M., Wallmon,
A., Olsson-Mortlock, C., Wallin,
R., Saldeen, T. (2003). Mixed tocopherols inhibit platelet aggregation in humans:
potential mechanisms. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition,
77, 700-6.
Miller, Edgar R. III, Pastor-Barriuso, Roberto, Dalal, Darshan, Riemersma, Rudolph A., Appel,
examiner.com