Anti-Oxidants and Degenerative Disease

MyAchingKnees.com continues to receive Health and Wellness information from Dr. Ray Strand in the form of his weekly Health Nuggets. The common train of the last two Health Nuggets was the relationship between low levels of anti-oxidants and degenerative disease. This week Dr Strand talks about Macular Degeneration and Atherosclerosis. Chronic Knee and other joint pain and problems are heavily influenced by the same thing as Macular Degeneration and Atherosclerosis that is oxidative stress, releasing free radicals that cause inflammation affecting a wide range of problems. The only,…again, the only protection we have a high level of control over is the nutritional supplements we take in order to provide our body the nutrients to combat oxidative stress – hence the term anti-oxidants.

I have some clients who are taking pharmaceutical grade Glucosamine and Omega 3 Fatty Acids that I recommend and take myself, but I also tell them they will not get the most optimal benefits until they begin a pharmaceutical grade nutritional supplementation program as all the minerals, vitamins and anti-oxidants work best and create synergy when they are consumed in the proper ratios.

Sunlight Exposure along with low Antioxidant levels Increases the risk of Macular Degeneration.

A recent study suggests that protecting the eyes from sunlight exposure (using hats or protective sunglasses) and consuming high levels of dietary antioxidants may significantly reduce the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration. The researchers looked at lifetime sunlight exposure and measured blood antioxidant levels of vitamin C, vitamin E, zeaxanthin, and zinc. They evaluated 4,400 older people and found that individuals with the lowest antioxidant levels and greatest sunlight exposure significantly increased the risk of macular degeneration.

Low Antioxidant Levels Associated with Hardening of the Arteries

A study looked at 220 men and women without a history of hardening of the arteries. Vitamin A, vitamin E, and Lycopene were decreased by over 50% in the participants who were found out to have hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) when compared to those who did not have any hardening of the arteries. The researchers concluded that regular intake of foods rich in antioxidant vitamins (nutritional supplementation) may slow the progression of hardening of the arteries and its consequences (heart attack or stroke).

Note: Riccioni G, et al. Plasma antioxidants and asymptomatic carotid atherosclerotic disease. Ann Nutr Metab. 2008;53 (2):86-90

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