The disease-preventing benefits of antioxidants have been widely reported, but science knows very little about the effectiveness of such supplements in treating serious conditions such as chronic inflammation.

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

"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."

Hofseth's study is recruiting participants between 23 and 50 years old who will take either a placebo or a commonly used anti-oxidant pill for two months. Before beginning the study, Hofseth's team will measure participants' inflammation load by looking for the presence of c-reactive protein and 19 other markers in the blood.

"After two months of supplementation, we'll screen for those same inflammation markers to see if the anti-oxidant or the placebo had any effect," he said.

Antioxidants occur naturally in many foods such as blueberries, broccoli, and other fruits and vegetables. The supplement Hofseth is testing is described as containing the extracts of 17 fruits and vegetables and is currently used by millions worldwide.

To learn more about the study or to inquire about participating, e-mail antioxidant@gwm.sc.edu. Participants will receive a $50 gift card, lab results, and a four-month supply of the antioxidant at the end of the study.

Hofseth plans to complete the study at the end of this summer 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.

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