Vitamin Supplements

In addition to antioxidant fruits, vegetables and phytochemicals, another way to supply antioxidants to your body is through vitamin supplements. Antioxidants are needed to neutralize the free radicals and oxidation, slow the effects of aging and combat degenerative diseases. Major causes of excess free radicals include smoking, air pollution, water pollution, some prescription drugs and even over exercising. Most vitamins are micronutrients, which in addition to their antioxidant capabilities, work at the cellular level regulating metabolism and releasing energy as well as acting as coenzymes to activate enzyme activity. Some vitamin supplements like Vitamins A, D, E and K are oil/fat soluble and can be stored in the body. Care must be taken not to ingest too large an amount of these vitamins in case they reach toxic levels. Other vitamin supplements like Vitamin B and C are water soluble and must be replenished daily as any excess is flushed away. Supplements like Vitamin C and Vitamin E and quasi-vitamins like CoQ10 and Alpha Lipoic Acid are very important in slowing the free-radical aging process and combating degenerative diseases like cancer, heart disease, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimers, diabetes, hypertension, cataracts and macular degeneration.

Vitamin C

The body does not manufacture Vitamin C so it must be obtained through diet and vitamin supplements. Ester-C supplements are non-acidic and more readily absorbed by the body. Since Vitamin C is water soluble and any excess will be flushed out of the system, you can take larger amounts several times per day if this is recommended by your health professional. Vitamin C combats the free radicals generated by smoking, air and water pollution. Vitamin C also helps to fight cardiovascular disease by protecting the lining of arteries from oxidative damage. This vitamin is also known to slow the growth of cataracts and inhibit the growth of various types of cancer. Vitamins C and E have a synergistic effect on each other after they have neutralized free oxygen radicals. At this point in time they have lost an electron and become free radicals themselves and Vitamin E can restore the damaged Vitamin C to its normal antioxidant capability.

Vitamin E

Like Vitamin C the body cannot manufacture Vitamin E, so it must be obtained through diet or vitamin supplements. Vitamin E is an oil soluble vitamin that can be stored in body fat for several days and care must be taken not to ingest too large an amount of this vitamin. It may also have a synergistic effect with blood thinners so check with your physician for recommended dosages. Vitamin E is not a single compound but a group of compounds of which the most important is “d-alpha tocopherol” which can be found in natural source vegetable oils. Synthetic Vitamin E is designated as “dl-alpha tocopherol” and it is not as effective as natural Vitamin E as it only contains a small amount of the natural source “d-alpha tocopherol”. This vitamin is a versatile antioxidant that reduces inflammation. Free radical attacks on LDL cholesterol cause oxidation which results in inflammation and arterial plaque deposits along the walls of blood vessels. A new test has been developed to measure C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in the blood which is a measure of inflammation and the likelihood of a heart attack. Vitamin E has been shown to lower CRP levels. Vitamin E has other ant-inflammatory effects and has been known to reduce pain and increase mobility in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

CoQ10

Some antioxidants, including Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), glutathione and alpha-lipoic acid are endogenous or made in the body. However as we grow older, the body produces less and less of these endogenous quasi-vitamins. This significant decrease in the production of these endogenous antioxidants as we age is thought to be a major contributor to aging and age-related diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease and cancer. It is difficult to supplement these quasi-vitamins through diet so we must rely on taking vitamin supplements to help control these diseases. CoQ10 is a key factor in the body’s metabolic process. Within each of the body’s cells, tiny mitochondria work ceaselessly to produce energy from the fats and carbs that you eat. This is known as the metabolic process and is what provides cellular energy for the body. Most of the B vitamins, Vitamin C and coenzymes like CoQ10 are involved in this metabolic process. CoQ10 is also a powerful antioxidant that works synergistically with Vitamin E to protect the cells against oxidation. A lot of recent research has been directed at the way CoQ10 protects the heart because more advanced heart disease is associated with low levels of CoQ10. This quasi-vitamin is also thought to significantly aid the body’s ability to recover from a heart attack. Other benefits attributed to Coenzyme Q10 are weight loss due to increased metabolic activity, and promising results in the treatment of cancer and Parkinson’s disease.

In recent years statins have become a very widely prescribed drug to lower cholesterol levels. Unfortunately statins also lower the body’s production of CoQ10. If you are a statin user, you should talk to your physician about taking CoQ10 supplements as they won’t interfere with the statins. However CoQ10 supplements may interact with blood thinners such as warfarin, so if you are taking prescription medicines always talk to your physician before starting to take supplements.

Alpha-Lipoic Acid

Alpha-lipoic acid or ALA works at the cellular level like CoQ10, as a key factor in the metabolic process, breaking down food into energy. ALA also improves the efficiency of insulin to control blood sugar levels and some aspects of aging due to increased blood sugar which can cause obesity, diabetes, heart disease and cancer. Like other vitamin or quasi-vitamin micronutrients, ALA has a number of roles in maintaining a healthy body. Alpha-lipoic acid aids in the breakdown of toxins and boosts the production of glutathione which is one of the body’s super antioxidants. Glutathione supplements aren’t readily absorbed when taken orally so the way to increase the body’s production is to take ALA vitamin supplements and the amino acid from which it is formed which can be found in N-acetylcysteine supplements. Alpha-lipoic acid itself is a super antioxidant which can slow the onset of the free radical aging process in addition to increasing the body’s sensitivity to insulin and controlling blood sugar levels. If possible try and use the natural form or R-alpha lipoic acid as it is mush more effective than the synthetic form or S-alpha lipoic acid. If you are taking insulin or other blood sugar reduction prescription drugs, then before taking ALA supplements you should discuss this with your physician. Blood sugar levels need to be carefully monitored when a diabetic adds alpha-lipoic acid supplements.