The Role of Antioxidants in Cancer Prevention

Antioxidants are substances that neutralize free radicals to prevent cellular damage in the body. These antioxidants which neutralize free radicals are called endogenous antioxidants, and the body relies on external (exogenous) sources, primarily the diet, to obtain the sufficient amount of antioxidants it needs. These exogenous antioxidants are commonly called dietary antioxidants.

Vitamins A, C, and E (alpha-tocopherol), beta-carotene, and lycopene are examples of dietary antioxidants. The mineral element selenium is often thought to be a dietary antioxidant, but the antioxidative effects of selenium are most often because of the antioxidant activity of proteins that have this element as …read more