Just how good are antioxidants?

We've all heard that antioxidants found in vegetables and fruits are good for your health. But are they really effective in treating serious conditions such as chronic inflammation?

Lorne Hofseth, a S.C. College of Pharmacy professor who has conducted considerable research on complementary medicines, is leading a study to determine if chronic inflammation is abated by the use of over-the-counter antioxidants.

“Chronic inflammation often has no symptoms—you can have an inflammatory load and not feel it—but it's a risk factor for many diseases such as cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer's, and heart disease,” Hofseth said. “A lot of people are turning to complementary and alternative medicines; our lab is looking at the molecular level to see what these drugs actually do.”

Participants in the study will get lab tests measuring the presence of inflammation markers in the blood. After two months of taking antioxidant supplements or placebos, they will be tested again. Hofseth plans to complete the study this year and publish the results in 2008. He has recently completed an animal study that produced promising data on the colitis-inhibiting effects of American ginseng. The results could lead to human clinical trials in the near future, he said.