Antioxidants as Adjuvants - A Review

Minoti Gupta, Sumeet Gupta, Swati Gupta, Richa Gupta, Rajeev Garg

Abstract: Oxidative stress is a common factor in all the chronic degenerative diseases. Whereas medicines combat the disease itself, another therapeutic modality like antioxidants prevents and aims to restrict the culprit ‘Oxidative stress’ itself. Lately, antioxidants have been more in demand due to increased prevalence of chronic debilitating diseases like diabetes, Alzheimer’s and cancer. Due to the increased awareness about antioxidants amongst the general population, these are consumed daily by some, without being aware of the indications and side effects of certain antioxidants if consumed beyond the dietary guidelines. The purpose of this review is to provide an updated information of antioxidants and their limitations as adjuvants for certain diseases like cancer.

Keywords: Antioxidants, Selenium, Glutathione peroxidase, Cancer, Free radicals, oxidative stress