Prasad stresses that those who take antioxidant supplements, must use right kind of anti-oxidants in the right dosage and right dose schedule, depending on factors such as their age, and health. "All antioxidants are not the same," he says. "Elderly with diabetes may need a different formulation than those with Alzheimer's or Parkinson's."
He goes on to say that a variation in 2 or 3 ingredients can make tremendous difference. People on cholesterol lowering drugs, for example, may not be taking antioxidants containing the co-enzyme Q10, but the medication is reducing co-enzyme Q10. For maximum benefit, the person should take an antioxidant supplement made for heart disease patients that contains high levels of coenzyme Q10.
As another example, people with diabetes often suffer complications, such as damage to the kidneys, due to problems with glucose control. If high levels of glucose are present, the body will also have high levels of free radicals. And free radicals-induced damage to tissue causes chronic inflammation – which is responsible for almost all diabetic complications. In other words, it's a vicious cycle.
Lack of knowledge contributes to many people not getting the maximum benefits from antioxidants. "People tend to think all Vitamin E is the same. It's not. You should seek a natural form (d-form), instead of a synthetic (dl -form) form found in some vitamins and supplements."
Prasad also recommends taking a multi-vitamin twice a day, rather than once a day. Most vitamins are not time-released formulas, so if you take it only in the morning, half of the nutritional value is gone by evening. "The body sees much to fluctuation in level of antioxidants. To maintain a constant level, take the same total dose, but divide half and half in evening," he says.
The bottom line: Talk to your doctor regarding the benefits of anti-oxidant supplements and whether they might negatively interact with other medications you are taking.