Free radicals and other reactive oxygen species are derived either from normal essential metabolic processes in the human body or from external sources such as exposure to X-rays, ozone, cigarette smoking, air pollutants and industrial chemicals. Free radical formation occurs continuously in the cells as consequence of both enzymatic and non-enzymatic reactions. There is now universal agreement that free radicals are involved in the physical, biochemical, and pathological changes associated with aging. Oxidative damage to proteins, lipids, and DNA accumulates and increases with age, and is associated with age-related diseases such as cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, and diabetes. An antioxidant is a molecule capable of slowing or preventing the oxidation of other molecules. In a biological system they may protect cells from damage caused by unstable molecules known as free radicals. Antioxidants terminate these chain reactions by removing free radical intermediates, and inhibit other oxidation reactions by being oxidized themselves. Although, some of the evidence that certain dietary antioxidants and some co-factors can reduce free radical mediated damage and promote healthy aging is controversial, the elderly should be encouraged to take exogenous antioxidants and co-factors, which have shown efficacy in scientific studies.
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