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To the Editor: Could the lack of effect of vitamin C and E supplements found by Dr Sesso and colleagues¹ be due to their mode of administration? Naturally occurring antioxidants, such as vitamins C and E, are integral components of food. After a meal, these antioxidants will be absorbed synchronously with all other digested food components. Circulating blood levels of these antioxidants will thus be maximal during the postprandial period. This coincides with the period of maximum oxidative stress, when intense mitochondrial activity accompanies the metabolic processing of digested food.² Naturally occurring antioxidants may therefore act synchronously to limit food-induced oxidative stress, a major source of oxidative stress in a Western lifestyle.³ The bioavailability of natural foodborne antioxidants appears ideally suited to resist the effects of diet-induced oxidative stress.

The authors gave no indication as to when or how the supplements were taken in relation to meals. If they were . . . [Full Text of this Article]

John Martin Evans, MBBCh
jme@oxmed.net
John Radcliffe Hospital
Oxford, United Kingdom

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