Health benefits of antioxidants
This website is about health benefits of antioxidants. Its purpose is to help lay persons to understand free radicals, oxidative stress and the benefits of antioxidants.
Hi there, my name is Simon C. Kwok. I have a Ph.D. degree in biochemistry/molecular biology. I have many areas of research interest, and one of them is on oxidative stress and the regulation of expression of heme oxygenase 1. Heme oxygenase 1 is the major enzyme in the antioxidant defense system against oxidative stress. My research has demonstrated that resveratrol can induce the expression of heme oxygenase 1 (please see unpublished research result below). Moreover, I have comprehensive understanding of oxidative stress and antioxidants.
In this website, I have recommended antioxidant supplements from Market America. This is because I have personal experience with these products. Other brands may be equally suitable. I am not personally connected with Market America or manufacturers of these products.
Unpublished Research Result
The figure shown below is my unpublished research result on the effect of heme oxygenase 1 gene by a number of antioxidant supplements. The antioxidant supplements are added individually to a dish of cultured cells for 24 hours. The cells are harvested and the luciferase activity is determined and compared to that of control. The luciferase activity provides a means of quantification of the gene activation by various antioxidants. When the luciferase activity of the treated cells is higher than that of control, activation of the heme oxygenase 1 gene has occurred.
This figure shows that resveratrol can activate heme oxygenase 1 gene by 2-fold in a cell-based assay. Other antioxidants (vitamin C, ORAC, OPC-3 and NAC) have luciferase activities similar to that of control. This means that they do not activate heme oxygenase 1. Their antioxidant activities may follow different biochemical pathways. Vitamin C, ORAC, OPC-3 and Resveratrol are products of Isotonix/Market America. NAC is N-acetylcysteine purchased from Millipore Sigma.