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ANTIOXIDANTS
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Dr INTHIRA
Kolej Perdana
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Learning outcome
At the end of this lecture, student should be able:

• relate antioxidants with each other, which can overcome the free radicals.

• Lists the antioxidants existing in diet.

• Illustrates the antioxidants as enzymatic and non-enzymatic.

• Understand specific functions of antioxidants where they can act in concert with each other to

protect against free radicals

• Give examples of good food sources of antioxidant nutrients.

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Mode of action of antioxidants

 Chain breaking reactions
eg: Alpha tocopherol

 Reducing the concentration of reactive

oxygen species eg: glutathione

 Chelating the transition metal catalysts eg: citric acid

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Functions of antioxidants

 Interrupting the free radical chain reaction involved in lipid oxidation

 Should not have any harmful or physiological effects
 Should not impart objectionable flavour, odour or colour to food
 It should be effective in low concentration (0.01-0.02%)
 Should be fat soluble
FRA2112 Antioxidants and human health

• Antioxidants- important for human health to prevent

oxidation of food containing lipids

• They play major role in body defense system against

reactive oxygen species (ROS) (produced during normal
metabolism)

• Helps to control oxidative stress

FRA2112 Table 3:Concentration of antioxidants in human health

Concentration in human Concentration in

Antioxidant metabolite Solubility
serum (μM) liver tissue (μmol/kg)

Ascorbic acid (vit. C) Water 50 – 60 260

Glutathione Water 4 6,400

Lipoic acid Water 0.1 – 0.7 4–5

β-carotene: 0.5 – 1
Carotenes Lipid 5
Retinol (vit. A): 1–3

α-Tocopherol (vit. E) Lipid 10 – 40 50

(Meister,1994)
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Table 4: Quantity required in our diet

Name of the antioxidant Quantity required

Vitamin E (Tocopherols) 100-3200 IU/day

Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid) 500-1000mg/day

Carotenids (β-caotene) 10-50mg/day

Amount of antioxidant rich food 600g/day

FRA2112 Benefits of antioxidants

• Acne- Helps to boost immune system and clears blood

• Ageing skin- Protects cell integrity

• Alcohol- Detoxifies the toxins caused due to alcohol consumption

• Allergies- Acts against allergy causing substances

• Heart and arterial diseases-Protect blood vessels from fatty deposits

• Joint pain- Promotes healthy joint cells

• Stamina- Helps in increasing stamina

• Wounds- Helps in better healing of wounds thus preventing further

infections
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ACTIVITY/TUTORIAL
• Search for antioxidants and its brand in Malaysia market.
• State functions of antioxidants in preventing human organs.
• Explain types of antioxidants can be found in house kichen.
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REFERENCES

• S. Paul(2021). A Textbook of Bio-Nutrition Curing Diseases Through Diet Kindle Edition. CBS

Publishers and distributors PVT LTD.

• Seyed Mohammad Nabavi, Ana Sanches Sanches Silva (Eds).(2022) Antioxidants Effects in

Health: The Bright and the Dark Side, Elsevier

• Antonis Zampelas, Renata Micha (Eds).(2015). Antioxidants in Health and Disease, 1st Edition.

CRC Press.