title: Antioxidant-induced stress.
abstract: Antioxidants are among the most popular health-protecting products, sold worldwide without prescription. Indeed, there are many reports showing the benefits of antioxidants but only a few questioning the possible harmful effects of these "drugs". The normal balance between antioxidants and free radicals in the body is offset when either of these forces prevails. The available evidence on the harmful effects of antioxidants is analyzed in this review. In summary, a hypothesis is presented that "antioxidant-induced stress" results when antioxidants overwhelm the body's free radicals.
authors.affiliation: Escuela Superior de Medicina del IPN, Posgrado e Investigacion, Plan de San Luis y Salvador Diaz Miron S/N, Colonia Casco de Santo Tomas, Mexico, DF. 11340, Mexico.
authors.forename: Cleva
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Villanueva
authors.affiliation: Kross-Link Laboratories, Bellmore, NY 11710, USA.
authors.forename: Robert D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Kross
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D018450:Disease Progression; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D005609:Free Radicals; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D013481:Superoxides