Q I have read about antioxidant supplements and hope you can enlighten me on this as I am taking them.
I am 50 years old and healthy. My son, who is 25, also takes both an antioxidant supplement and vitamin E. He takes the latter because he has an acne problem. I understand that it is good for the skin.
Lately, there have been many reports about both these products and I would like some advice on whether both my son and I should continue to take them.

A Antioxidants are natural compounds that help protect against harmful free radicals which cause damage to organs in our body. Free radicals increase in our bodies when we do not get enough sleep, are under stress, smoke, consume too much alcohol and eat a higher amount of sugar or processed foods.

Some of the well-known antioxidants are vitamin E, vitamin C, beta-carotene (pro vitamin A) and the minerals zinc and selenium.

Antioxidants help in the prevention and treatment of acne, preventing free radicals from harming the skin and immune system. But if you want a healthy skin without acne, besides taking antioxidants, you have to maintain a healthy lifestyle and avoid the risks mentioned before.

Fruits and vegetables are a rich source of antioxidants that can be part of your diet and provide digestible antioxidants.

 -Dr Caroline Low is a senior family phsician at Raffles Medical

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This story was first published in the Mind Your Body supplement on Apr 9, 2008.