The Dilemma of Exogenous Antioxidant Therapy in Clinical Practice in Nigeria: Insight into Health Implication
B. K. Myke-Mbata *
Department of Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Basic and Allied Medical Sciences, Benue State University, Makurdi, Nigeria.
S. C. Meludu
Department of Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria.
C. E. Dioka
Department of Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The growing interest among health care users in developing countries on antioxidant therapy has led to indiscriminate abuse of highly marketed antioxidant therapy. In a normal cell, there should be a balance of activities between free radicals and antioxidants which are tightly regulated by the homeostatic mechanism of the human body. How does antioxidant therapy effect this balance? This review will be throwing light on the import of exogenous supplementation of antioxidants, especially in a disease state.
Keywords: Antioxidant therapy, exogenous antioxidant, antioxidant supplementation