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Facts about Antioxidants

Kaitlin G. Clark and Wendy J. Dahl

Our bodies are made up of cells. Chemical reactions, known collectively as metabolism, are constantly occurring inside our cells. These reactions are necessary for life, but sometimes they create free radicals. Free radicals are highly reactive molecules that can initiate damaging chain reactions in our cells (Alkadi 2020). This is known as oxidative stress. Research has linked oxidative stress to many diseases: arthritis, lung diseases (such as emphysema), heart disease, stroke, ulcers, hypertension, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases, muscular dystrophy, and others. Oxidative stress also contributes to the normal aging process (Lobo et al. 2010).

 

Antioxidants can inactivate free radicals and protect our cells from oxidative stress and the damage it causes. Antioxidants also can help our immune system defend against bacteria, fungi, viruses, and some cancers (Mandelker 2008). The body produces some of its own antioxidants but eating a plant-based diet increases the level of antioxidants in our bodies.

Sources of Antioxidants

There are many different compounds that can act as antioxidants. Some, such as carotenoids (e.g., beta-carotene, lutein, lycopene), can be identified by the orange-red color of the vegetables containing them. Vitamin C and vitamin E also function as antioxidants. Table 1 shows some common food sources of antioxidants.

Antioxidant Activity

The amounts of antioxidants in a food can be determined as "antioxidant activity," which is a measure of how well they inhibit free radicals. The fruits highest in antioxidant activity are blueberries, pomegranates, blackberries, strawberries, and raspberries (Wolfe et al. 2008). The vegetables highest in antioxidant activity are beets, red peppers, eggplant, Brussels sprout, and broccoli (Song et al. 2010).

Recommended Intake

The Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) for antioxidant vitamins are given in Table 2. Because smokers have higher levels of oxidative stress, an additional 35 mg per day of vitamin C is recommended (IOM 2001).

 

Table 2. 

RDA for vitamins C, E, and A

Age (years)

Vitamin C (mg/day)

Vitamin E

(mg/day)

(as a-tocopherol)

Vitamin A

(micrograms/day)

(RAE*)

Children 1–3 years

15

6

300

Children 4–8 years

25

7

400

Males 9–13 years

45

11

600

Males 14–18

75

15

900

Males >19

90

15

900

Females 9–13

45

11

600

Females 14–18

65

15

700

Females >19

75

15

700

*Retinol Activity Equivalents

 

Other antioxidants are not vitamins and do not have recommended intakes. Plant foods are the best source of antioxidants. Making half of your daily food intake fruits and vegetables (especially dark-green, red, and orange vegetables) and choosing whole grains should provide plenty of antioxidants in your diet. It is also important to consume a variety of fruits and vegetables, since different antioxidants are found in different foods.

Antioxidant Supplements

While consuming antioxidants from fruits and vegetables is associated with a decreased risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease (Garrido, Terron, and Rodriguez 2013), taking antioxidants as supplements is not recommended due to increased risk of disease (Bjelakovic et al. 2012).

References

Alkadi, H. 2020. “A Review on Free Radicals and Antioxidants.” Infectious Disorders-Drug Targets (Formerly Current Drug Targets-Infectious Disorders) 20(1):16-26. https://doi.org/10.2174/1871526518666180628124323.

Bjelakovic, G., Nikolova, D., Gluud, L.L., Simonetti, R.G., Gluud, C. 2012. "Antioxidant supplements for prevention of mortality in healthy participants and patients with various diseases." Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 3 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD007176.pub2.

Garrido, M., Terron, M.P., Rodriguez, A.B. 2013. "Chrononutrition against oxidative stress in aging." Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity 2013. [RM1] https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/729804.

Institute of Medicine. 2001. Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Arsenic, Boron, Chromium, Copper, Iodine, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum, Nickel, Silicon, Vanadium, and Zinc. National Academies of Science. Washington, D.C.

Lobo, V., Patil, A., Phatak, A., & Chandra, N. 2010. "Free radicals, antioxidants and functional foods: Impact on human health." Pharmacognosy Review, 4(8), 118-126. https://doi.org/10.4103/0973-7847.70902.

Mandelker, L. 2008. "Cellular effects of common antioxidants." The Veterinary Clinics of North America. Small Animal Practice, 38(1), 199-211. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvsm.2007.11.002.

Song, W., Derito, C. M., Liu, M.K., He, X., Dong, M., & Liu, R.H. 2010. "Cellular antioxidant activity of common vegetables." Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 58(11), 6621-6629. https://doi.org/10.1021/jf9035832.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Academy of Sciences. Institute of Medicine. Food and Nutrition Board. n.d. "Dietary Reference Intakes: Recommended Dietary Allowances and Adequate Intakes, Vitamins." Accessed March 16, 2021. https://ods.od.nih.gov/HealthInformation/Dietary_Reference_Intakes.aspx.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. n.d. "FoodData Central." Accessed February 18, 2022. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/.

Wolfe, K. L., Kang, X., He, X., Dong, M., Zhang, Q., & Liu, R. H. 2008. "Cellular antioxidant activity of common fruits." Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 56(18), 8418-8426. Accessed March 16, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1021/jf801381y.


 [RM1]Maybe annual publications because there is no other data. 

Tables

Table 1. 

Some common food sources of antioxidants.1

Food Source

Antioxidant Content

Food Source

Antioxidant Content

 

Vitamin C1

mg

 

Lutein +

Zeaxanthin1

mg

red peppers (1 medium)

152

spinach (1/2 cup cooked)

15

green pepper (1 medium)

96

kale (1/2 cup cooked)

13

broccoli (1 cup chopped)

81

collards (1/2 cup cooked)

9

orange (1 medium)

68

peas (1/2 cup cooked)

2

kiwifruit (1)

64

squash (1/2 cup cooked)

2

grapefruit (1 medium)

38

broccoli (1/2 cup cooked)

1

 

Vitamin E1

mg

 

Lycopene1

mg

wheat germ (1 oz.)

4.5

tomato juice (1 cup)

22

almonds (1 oz.)

7.3

watermelon (1 wedge)

13

safflower oil (1 Tbsp.)

4.6

ketchup (1 Tbsp.)

2.5

hazelnuts (1 oz.)

4.3

pink grapefruit (1/2)

2

 

Vitamin A1 RAE* micrograms

 

Beta-carotene1

micrograms

sweet potato (1/2 cup canned)

955

pumpkin pie (1 slice)

7366

pumpkin (1/2 cup canned)

953

spinach (1/2 cup cooked)

5659

carrots (1/2 cup cooked)

665

sweet potato (1 small baked)

6905

cantaloupe (1 small)

745

carrot (1 medium)

5054

spinach (1/2 cup cooked)

472

collards (1/2 cup cooked)

4287

1 (USDA n.d.)

*RAE = Retinol Activity Equivalents; 1 RAE = 1 microgram retinol; 1 microgram retinol = 12 micrograms beta-carotene, thus values for vitamin A include beta-carotene.

Also Available in: Español

Publication #FSHN14-02

Release Date:July 20, 2021

Related Experts

Dahl, Wendy J.

Specialist/SSA/RSA

University of Florida

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About this Publication

This document is FSHN14-02, one of a series of the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, UF/IFAS Extension. Original publication date February 2014. Revised May 2017 and March 2021. Visit the EDIS website at https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu for the currently supported version of this publication.

About the Authors

Kaitlin G. Clark, former graduate student; and Wendy J. Dahl, associate professor; Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, UF/IFAS Extension, Gainesville, FL 32611.

Contacts

  • Wendy Dahl