Free radicals and antioxidants in ageing and disease: fact or fantasy?

Abstract It is difficult these days to open a popular science magazine or medical journal without seeing an article about the role of free radicals in human disease. Women’s magazines contain articles about the use of ‘antioxidant creams’ to prevent ageing of the skin, and health food stores are full of pamphlets and books describing how antioxidant or dietary supplements can prolong life, protect youth, or prevent disease. Is there any truth in all this? Three points are worth stating: (1) There is no evidence that consuming more antioxidants will prolong the natural maximum human life span.