Asked by Patricia Berkhousen, Spring Hill, Florida
You said that one of the few supplements you take is fish oil. With all the buzz about the benefits of antioxidants today -- and the tenet that "too much of anything is not good" -- can you get "too much" antioxidant?
Diet and Fitness Expert
Dr. Melina Jampolis
Physician Nutrition Specialist
Hi Patricia. Antioxidants are a hot topic lately, but you are absolutely correct in your assumption that "too much of anything is not good" when it comes to antioxidant supplements. While it is true that we are under more stress than ever when it comes to environmental insults that can cause free radicals, the compounds that antioxidants are designed to fight, current research suggests that taking supplemental antioxidants including vitamin E, vitamin A, beta carotene may actually increase your risk of disease or dying in some cases. In some cases, such as slowing the progression of age-related macular degeneration (not preventing), the leading cause of blindness in Americans, antioxidants seem to be useful, but in many cases, they have shown no clinical benefit.
In addition, it is important to remember that no amount of antioxidants or supplements can undo the damage of an unhealthy diet or lifestyle, so for those who are considering these types of supplements to avoid adopting healthier lifestyle choices, that strategy will not work. Until we have more information, I recommend avoiding large doses of any single antioxidant and focusing instead on eating a diet rich in whole grains, fruits and vegetables which are naturally full of antioxidants and much harder to overdose on. If you have a particular medical condition that you think may benefit from antioxidant supplements, talk to your health care practitioner before taking high doses of anything to avoid making your condition worse or increasing your risk of another disease.
Next question:
Can DNA analysis help ID best weight loss method?
CNN Comment Policy: CNN encourages you to add a comment to this discussion. You may not post any unlawful, threatening, defamatory, obscene, pornographic or other material that would violate the law. All comments should be relevant to the topic and remain respectful of other authors and commenters. You are solely responsible for your own comments, the consequences of posting those comments, and the consequences of any reliance by you on the comments of others. By submitting your comment, you hereby give CNN the right, but not the obligation, to post, air, edit, exhibit, telecast, cablecast, webcast, re-use, publish, reproduce, use, license, print, distribute or otherwise use your comment(s) and accompanying personal identifying and other information you provide via all forms of media now known or hereafter devised, worldwide, in perpetuity. CNN Privacy Statement.
The information contained on this page does not and is not intended to convey medical advice. CNN is not responsible for any actions or inaction on your part based on the information that is presented here. Please consult a physician or medical professional for personal medical advice or treatment.