NeuroTalk Support Groups - View Single Post - Excessive use of antioxidants ..is it safe?

mrsD · 07-07-2012, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flygirl7

The first article you cited is about vitamins A & E, which are also considered antioxidants, and there are problems with too much A or synthetic E. That's not the same as astaxanthin or resveratrol.

As a pharmacist who has researched vitamins and supplements thoroughly, I do not believe you can overdose on astaxanthin. It's not present in many food sources, so you can't rely on food for it. Up to 12 mg a day is great--beyond that, your fat storage becomes saturated and you eliminate excess, so it's a waste of your money. I take 8 mg daily, in split doses, and I don't sunburn anymore because it's a natural internal sunscreen.

If you're only taking 500 mg a day of vitamin C, I'd tell you to take 1000 mg daily in divided doses.

Sadly, food quality, even organic, is not what it used to be. Our soils are depleted and not as nurturing as in the past. In the 1940s, you could get all the vitamin A you needed from 2 peaches....now it takes 40 peaches. So I believe in supplementation even with a great diet.

I agree that there comes a point where you're taking too much, but I don't believe it hurts your body to take a lot of antioxidants (just not A or synthetic E), but it sure hurts your wallet. I think everyone should take at least one fat-soluble antioxidant and one water-soluble antioxidant daily.

The first article I cited here is about astaxanthin. Not Vits A, C or E. Those remain controversial, still, and the studies pro and con are confusing still/
If one wants to be orange like Dr. Mercola MD..as he has appeared on Dr. OZ now twice, then yes, do the high dose.
People here who read are entitled to both sides of any medical topic. My take is that we did not evolve on high dose astaxanthin, and therefore, we should be cautious with it.

High dose Vit C in patients with diabetes is not recommended in some studies. Many of our readers here are over 50 and this would be an issue.
There are some new studies to suggest no more than 250mg.
If you have read any of my posts, you will know that I am borderline with this risk, and only control it with lipoic acid, and diet.
I've been insulin resistant for many years with PCOS.

Highly acidic environments in the body also are connected with chronic pain. Many of our posters have chronic pain in one form or another. Pain is now known to be mediated by acid reactions. Using an EsterC product would reduce the acidic load, IMO.

I AM investigating the new liposomal forms of ascorbic acid which allow for less dose, and more response. Haven't tried them yet, but may do so shortly. As of now I only recommend Ester C for those going for 500mg or above.

Vit C is an essential nutrient, and can help with collagen disorders and arthritis. But one has to be careful with it under some circumstances.

Yes I do agree about organic being less reliable. I saw this over a decade ago in my own town, where the organic grocer was seen in a Kroger's buying lettuce in bulk when he ran out of his organic product.(this was years before Kroger's started carrying "organic" and other health food products).
I don't think honesty in retail is that reliable for food. And recently a new article about organic meats raised the concern for increased toxoplasmosis infections.
http://vitals.msnbc.msn.com/_news/20...site-risk?lite
Organic does not always mean better!

I do think people should investigate carefully whatever supplement they are interested in before actually using it. The papers on supplements tend to be very conflicting...and the controversy on Vit D is an example of that. And the link with high dose folic acid, to colon cancer has not yet been clarified fully.

I am still looking for that article I saw recently... I am just striking out trying to find it again...