Men might get a fertility boost by taking an antioxidant
supplement, but the same may not hold true for women, according
to a study on mice that found common antioxidants, including
vitamins C and E, may pose problems for female fertility.
Published January 10, 2011 in the journal Proceedings of the
National Academy of Sciences, the study examined the effect of
antioxidants on female ovulation, noting that in mice exposed to
high levels of antioxidants, lower than normal numbers of eggs
were released during ovulation. What's the connection?
Antioxidants work by eliminating cell-damaging molecules known
as "reactive oxygen species," the culprit thought to be behind
inflammation and other health ailments. Researchers in this
study now believe that perhaps some level of inflammation is
needed to jumpstart the ovulation process (and enhance an egg's
ability to "burst" from the follicle). By doing too good a job
at reducing inflammation, antioxidants may disrupt this natural
process. Natural health nut? It's alway