Free radicals constantly bombard our bodies. They arise from the air we breathe to the food we eat. Free radicals are unstable molecules that contain oxygen, and they can cause oxidative stress at a cellular level by stealing electrons from your cells. What is more, they can trigger the body’s inflammatory response. If not addressed, this inflammatory response could result in various health issues, including increased vulnerability to fine lines, wrinkles, and skin damage from the sun. Antioxidant supplements may help fight free radicals and protect your skin.
Inflammation is your body’s response to stress. Once your brain identifies stress, the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis sends chemical messengers to various body parts to deal with this. This results in the activation of your NeuroEndoMetabolic (NEM) stress response. All organs and circuits in your body respond to your NEM. As a result of the NEM activation, your automatic immune response also kicks in, resulting in inflammation.
Due to their action on your body, free radicals are stressors, and your body’s response to them is inflammation. While free radicals may arise from sources like medication, pollution, or radiation, they also result from normal cell metabolism.
The three body systems most directly influencing your inflammation circuit include the immune system, gastrointestinal tract (gut), and microbiome.
Normally, inflammation is a good thing. It shows your body is fighting against an intruder, injury, or toxin. But sometimes, a dysregulation of your inflammation circuit occurs, and the inflammation can persist long-term. In such cases, you may start developing unrelated health issues. Antioxidant supplements may help you deal with these issues in some cases.
The most common health issues associated with inflammation include:
Many of the health issues mentioned share a link with compromised adrenal function, as does chronic inflammation. Stress, in general, as well as the stress caused by inflammation, can impact adrenal function. Your adrenal glands form part of your HPA axis and produce stress hormones like cortisol as part of your body’s NEM stress response.
The continuous production of stress hormones can cause a hormone imbalance, which, in turn, could increase oxidative stress in the body. One should look at nutrition to support adrenal health while dealing with oxidative stress.3 Many people may rely on antioxidant supplements to fulfill this role.
The term oxidation describes the action of free radicals on the body. The process causes damage to your cell membranes as well as other structures. These include your DNA, cellular proteins, and lipids. This results from unstable molecules, i.e., free radicals, forming due to oxygen metabolization. Due to instability, the free radicals steal electrons from other molecules, resulting in damage.
Conversely, antioxidants may either inhibit the oxidation process1 or remove oxidizing agents where they occur in your body.
These antioxidants are found in the foods we eat. However, many people do not eat enough of the right types of foods to have enough of them in their bodies. Antioxidant supplements may bridge this gap.
Before the 1990s, few people spoke about free radical damage and antioxidants. But then studies started showing that when people ate too little of certain fruits and vegetables containing antioxidants, they started developing health issues. Research then started on the uses and benefits of individual antioxidants. This led to the market opening wide for antioxidant supplements.
Nowadays, antioxidant supplements are added to many foods, including cereals, energy drinks, and certain processed foods.
Furthermore, these supplemental additives are touted as being able to prevent a wide variety of health issues, like memory loss, heart disease, and even cancer. While they may help promote better health when taken in a natural form, this is not so likely when they are packed into sugary, chemical-laden processed foods.
Please note that high doses of these supplements may do more harm than good. So, when considering antioxidant supplements, please first consider following a diet full of antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables. This is the healthiest and safest way to get these nutrients.
In addition, when considering sunscreens or facial products, remember that whatever you take internally will also work through your skin. Very high levels of antioxidants applied to your skin may not give you much advantage.
Always talk to a healthcare provider before taking any form of supplements. Also, if you have problematic skin, talk to a healthcare provider who is well-versed in skin issues. Their advice may prove best when it comes to dealing with skin problems. Certain antioxidant creams may exacerbate certain skin issues.
Many antioxidant supplements may help reduce the effects of free radicals on your skin and slow the aging process. The top three antioxidants for your skin are vitamin E, C, and beta-carotene. We'll look at how they help in detail below.
Certain foods like nuts and seeds contain significant vitamin E, as do green leafy vegetables. This antioxidant may help prevent or reverse complications associated with various health issues. The vitamin has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and promotes a healthy immune system.4
Vitamin E is also one of the antioxidant supplements most used in skin care products. For your skin, the vitamin may have the following benefits:
Eating foods rich in vitamin E may help improve immune system function and help your body fight off disease. Foods high in vitamin E may also promote better skin and eye health. Unfortunately, our body’s vitamin E levels decrease as we age. Increasing the amount of foods rich in this vitamin in your diet may help, as may the use of vitamin E supplements.
CannaPlex E is a supplement high in vitamin E and other natural ingredients that may help with the issues surrounding aging skin. You could also consider LipoNano Glutathione. This supplement, high in vitamin E and B12, promotes detoxification, supports liver function, and protects your body against oxidative stress.
Taking vitamin E as a supplement in high doses could increase the risk of bleeding, muscle weakness, nausea, diarrhea, and fatigue in some people. However, this is very rare.
Vitamin C not only protects your body against the effect of harmful free radicals but boosts your immune system function as well. Your body also needs vitamin C to help form and maintain healthy bones, cartilage, blood vessels, and skin. Regarding skin health, vitamin C may:
Increasing your vitamin C intake through the foods you eat is the healthiest way to ensure you reap the benefits of this vitamin. Foods high in vitamin C include the following:
A skincare product like Glutathione Gold C is high in vitamin C and other beneficial, natural products that promote healthy skin. You could also consider Adrenal Collagen Rebuilder. This supplement is high in vitamin C and has other ingredients that focus on repairing the skin and promoting collagen production. Another supplement to consider is LipoNano C. High in vitamin C, it also promotes adrenal health.
Vitamin C is usually considered safe, even at high doses. However, in some people, high doses may result in symptoms like:
Beta-carotene is also one of the best antioxidant supplements for your skin. Not only does a beta-carotene supplement protect your body from free radicals, but it is also known for its immunomodulatory activities.
When it comes to skin help, this supplement has many benefits. For example:
Generally speaking, foods high in beta-carotene have intense color. These foods are usually orange, yellow, and green. Good examples of these foods include:
CarrotsDo take note, however, that people with high alcohol consumption or who smoke should not take this supplement without their doctor’s advisement. This is because beta-carotene may increase the risk of heart disease and cancer in certain groups.
In addition to the above antioxidant supplements, some antioxidant creams can help protect the skin.
Sun exposure is the main source of free radical damage to the skin. UV rays can cause oxidative stress that activates certain enzymes in the skin. These enzymes break down your skin’s collagen and damage cells’ DNA. This may result in the signs associated with premature aging.2
Many topical creams have a UV-blocking action and antioxidant ingredients to help fight premature aging. One such formula is HSN Formula, which promotes healthy skin, hair, and nails.
While the foods you eat should ideally provide your body with the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients it needs to keep you healthy, antioxidant supplements may also be beneficial. This is particularly the case when dealing with skin issues or the effects of the sun’s UV rays and their role in premature aging.
Strong antioxidant supplements like vitamin E, vitamin C, and beta-carotene have proven effective in this regard. But, as with any supplement, we advise you to first talk to your healthcare provider before embarking on a course. If you would like help with supplementation, call Dr. Lam's team at +1 (626) 571-1234, and we can offer a free initial phone consultation to get you started on your health journey.
Salehi, Bahare, et al. “Antioxidants: Positive or Negative Actors?” Biomolecules, vol. 124, no. 4, 25 Oct. 2018, https://doi.org/10.3390/biom8040124.
Lohan, Silke B., et al. “Switching From Healthy to Unhealthy Oxidative Stress – Does the Radical Type Can Be Used as an Indicator?” Free Radical Biology and Medicine, vol. 401–411, 1 Jan. 2021, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2020.10.319.
Patani, Anil, et al. “Harnessing the Power of Nutritional Antioxidants Against Adrenal Hormone Imbalance-associated Oxidative Stress.” Frontiers in Endocrinology, vol. 14, 30 Nov. 2023, https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2023.1271521.
Rizvi, Saliha. “The Role of Vitamin E in Human Health and Some Diseases.” PubMed Central (PMC), 1 May 2014, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24790736/.
Yes, antioxidant supplements do support adrenal fatigue. They fight free radicals and many have anti-inflammatory properties. The presence of free radicals and inflammation put added stress on the adrenals. They also support your body's stress response.
