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"What role do antioxidants play in preventing age-related diseases? \nWhat changes occur in the human body when ageing? A European funded \nstudy, co-ordinated by the UK Institute of Food Research in \nNorwich, is currently trying to tackle these questions. \n The ageing process triggers heart disease, cancer, blindness and \ndiseases of the neurological system, such as dementia. The \nscientists report that although it is known that the family \nbackground influences the onset of these through the genes, the \nimportance of lifestyle and environmental factors, such as diet, \nare of increasing interest and relevance. A diet rich in plant \nfoods is known to reduce the risks of developing certain \nage-related diseases, claim the researchers, and naturally \noccurring compounds in cereals, fruit and vegetables may reduce the \nrisk of these ageing-associated diseases. \n The mechanism underpinning ageing and the initiation of \nage-related diseases is thought to be due to the production of \nhighly reactive molecules that oxidise or damage components of \ncells, causing these to malfunction. Antioxidants are a group of \nsubstances that have the potential to stop these harmful \nreactions. \n The on-going European project, called 'EUROFEDA', is reviewing \nthe evidence that antioxidants in the diet are beneficial and what \nintakes, if any, are associated with any beneficial effects. They \nhave looked into substances that are naturally occurring \nantioxidants and those substances that ensure antioxidant defences \nin the body are maximised. The effectiveness of present methods to \nestimate the damage caused by oxidants in body tissues, the \ninformation that exists on the biological effects of antioxidants \nin the body and evaluating what is known about the distribution of \nantioxidants in the body, particularly at sites where oxidative \ndamage has the potential to cause severe illness.\n\n            googletag.cmd.push(function ()\n            {\n                googletag.display('text-ad1');\n            });\n        \n \n The co-ordinators of the project are organising a conference \nfrom 25-28 September on 'Antioxidants: Benefits and Risks'​ to present the \nlatest advances in the understanding of the effects of dietary \nantioxidants on health and age-related disease. \n\n"
<https://www.foodnavigator.com/Article/2002/09/11/Can-antioxidants-combat-ageing>