The impact of antioxidants on chronic disease in ageing and in old age

The antioxidant defense system is important in maintaining cellular homeostasis and preventing oxidative stress. Antioxidants are important dietary components contributing to a general slowing of ageing processes (e.g. cataract formation), but also in protecting particularly vulnerable sites from developing tissue injuries resulting in chronic diseases. This suggests that we should aim at certain minimum threshold concentrations of plasma antioxidants. In the near future, it is well possible that the amount of nutrients necessary to prevent or to reduce the risk for chronic diseases will be the more important issue than the amount it lakes to prevent deficiencies. In order to achieve optimal nutritional levels, particularly elderly may benefit from the use of supplements during periods of stress or compromised nutrient intake. The highly interactive antioxidative system in the body strongly suggests that a well-balanced adequate intake of different antioxidants will be superior in its protective action to the supplementation with one single compound. It should be possible to resolve in the near future the question whether two days RDA's are still adequate or whether the intake should be revised upwards.