Maqui Berry News

Vitamins C and E are powerful antioxidants and are the main dietary nutrients that are effective for counteracting free radicals in the system.  Beta-carotene is the main source of pro-vitamin A in the diet.

Antioxidant vitamins, nutrients and minerals can be found in fruits and vegetables, the highest concentrations of which can be found in those with the richest, brightest, or most intense colours.

Vitamin C

•    Vitamin C is superior to all other biological antioxidants in protecting body tissues and cells that are exposed to stress and an increase of free radicals.
•    Vitamin C concentrations are 50 times higher in the eye, and protect against “oxidative damage” (free radical damage) caused by light.
•    Vitamin C is present in the male reproductive organs and plays an essential role in sperm maturation.

Vitamin E

•    Scientific research has indicated that the primary role of Vitamin E is to prevent the “autoxidation” (damage caused by free oxygen radicals) of tissues and cells in the body.

Beta-carotene and Pro-vitamin A

•    Levels of Beta-carotene and pro-vitamin A may be higher in fruits than in vegetables
•    Beta-carotene plays an antioxidant role in immune cells
•    Beta-carotene and pro-vitamin A are used successfully in treatment of “Erythropoietic Protoporphyria” which is a light-sensitive condition of the eye specifically effecting the rods and cones.
•    Beta-carotene and pro-vitamin A may protect the retinal pigment epithelium of the eye against free radical damage caused by blue light.

Check out the complete list of Antioxidant Vitamins, Nutrients and Minerals and their descriptions, posted on the Macular Degeneration Support website .

(Source: World Health Organization: VITAMIN AND MINERAL REQUIREMENTS IN HUMAN NUTRITION)