Are Antioxidants Good for Lupus?

In 1992, The “French Paradox” saying was born.

It came about due to French people having low rates of cardiovascular disease.

Despite the fact that they ate more saturated fat than most other nations.

In the end, the credit went to their high wine consumption of around 20-30 grams a day.

But when they dug deeper, they saw that it was all thanks to “resveratrol”. ^[1]

Resveratrol is an “antioxidant”.

Antioxidants are a group of molecules that have defensive duties in your body. With links to many health benefits.

Yet it has been a source of arguments and debate within science. Why is that?

But more so, if antioxidants are good for us – are they even better for us with lupus?

This is what we will cover in this article.

“Antioxidants” is a claim you don’t see on many food products or supplements these days.

European regulatory restraints have put an end to “antioxidants” on the packaging.

The belief is that the word alone implies that there are health benefits. So, they insist companies be specific on the benefits that such antioxidants offer to us. ^[2]

This has a lot to do with the mixed results seen in science. Making this a matter of arguments and debate. ^[3][4]

There is no question: antioxidants play an important role within your body.

None more so than protecting your genetic material like DNA from damaging chemicals. A daily battle that happens over 10,000 times a day – in every cell of your body. ^[5]

Plus, if they fail in their job disease can appear.

So, this gives the impression that the more antioxidants, the better.

But this may not be the case.

For instance, low antioxidant activity has links to many diseases. Yet taking large amounts of antioxidants offers no benefits. This is what we know as the “antioxidant paradox”. ^[6]

In fact, science suggests that taking too many antioxidants can create “antioxidant stress”. Also known as “reductive stress”.

This isn’t sustainable for a long-time and can cause issues like heart failure. ^[7][8]

Antioxidants may even feed cancer cells also – helping to spread it through the body quicker. ^[9]

A big concern when you consider that 50% of us will develop cancer at some point in our life.

Metabolic processes are a constant feature of your breathing body. For example, when your body uses food to produce energy. Others include: ^[14]

• “Apoptosis” – programmed cell suicide
• “Steroidogenesis” – production of steroid hormones
• “Cell immunity” – activation of certain immune responses

But these methods make potentially-dangerous entities called, “free radicals”.

At low levels, these free radicals serve as signalling molecules. At somewhat higher concentrations, they have a role in immune defence. But…

Free radicals are unstable oxygen atoms. They have ‘unpaired electrons’ that cause damage to cells, proteins, and even your DNA. Once free, they travel through the body trying to pair up with other electrons. Stealing them from healthy molecules.

One free radical group is the “reactive oxygen species”. Or ROS for short. They are very reactive and disrupt the chemical bonds of nearby particles.

For this reason, they are usually neutralised or recycled immediately once they appear. A function performed by “antioxidants”. ^[15]

If these reactive oxygen species are not defused, they can damage your body’s proteins, lipids (fats, hormones, etc.), and DNA.

Throwing the body’s cellular metabolic system off-balance. Even causing healthy cells to commit suicide. ^[16]

This is what they call “oxidative stress”.

Not only is this thought to make you age quicker. But it is also said to promote many illnesses, including: ^[17][18]

• Biliary Cirrhosis (gallbladder, bile ducts etc.) ^[19]
• Cancer
• Cardiovascular diseases.
• COPD ^[20]
• Diabetes
• Kidney disease (acute and chronic),
• Liver diseases – the liver functions as a recycling centre for these reactive species ^[21]
• Macular degeneration
• Metabolic diseases ^[22]
• Neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease ^[23]
• Osteoarthritis ^[24]
• Preterm Birth ^[25]

Oxidative stress plays a big part in the development of systemic lupus. As well as the organ damage and “comorbidities” seen in people with this illness. ^[26][27]

One idea is that… faults within the “mitochondrial” in your “T cells” promote inflammation. By way of releasing “lipid hydroperoxides”.

These spread oxidative stress through the bloodstream and to the core of other cells. Modifying your body’s internal cells and making them a target for your immune system. ^[28] I.e., creating an autoimmune condition.

The degree of such changes correlates with disease activity. As well as organ damage in systemic lupus. This can include the heart and kidney systems, as well as the skin. ^[29][30]

In other words, the more modified cells there are, the worse a person’s lupus is.

Living with lupus may mean you have low levels of the antioxidant enzyme “Catalase”. As well as “Glutathione” – a major natural antioxidant. ^[31][32]

Glutathione is your body’s most powerful antioxidant and the main detoxifying agent. It plays a vital role in:

• Enabling the immune system
• Nutrient metabolism
• Regulation of other important cellular events

So, being deficient in glutathione puts you in a pole position for oxidative stress.

Gut health could be a key piece in this puzzle.

Bacteria that live in the small intestine are shown to consume “glycine”. This is one of the three amino acids that your body uses to synthesis glutathione. ^[33]

Yet, supplementing with “N-acetylcysteine” seems to be a good therapeutic option. Seen in both, animal and human systemic lupus studies. ^[27]

N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) is a precursor of glutathione… and an antioxidant in and of itself.

It replenishes glutathione levels and regulates T cells in those with systemic lupus. Decreasing disease activity. ^[34][35][36]

It all begins with the oxygen you breathe in.

Around 5% or more of which becomes reactive oxygen species. ^[37]

Some of the oxygen you inhale will interact with certain molecules within your body. Either losing or gaining a single electron on the cell’s outer shell. This then becomes a “free radical”.

This is especially true if you happen to take in: ^[18]

• Air and water pollution
• Tobacco
• Alcohol
• Heavy or transition metals (mercury, aluminium, etc.)
• Drugs (e.g., paracetamol, cyclosporine, tacrolimus, gentamycin, and bleomycin)
• Industrial solvents
• Cooking (e.g., smoked meat, waste oil, and fat)
• Radiation
• Exposure to sunlight

Free radicals scavenge through your body looking to steal an electron from healthy cells. Creating a chain reaction that results in the disruption in many nearby cells. Leading to “oxidative stress”.

This triggers the release of pro-inflammatory chemicals like “arachidonic acid”.

This initiates inflammation within your cells, speeding up cell death. Making you age quicker. Not ideal when you consider inflammation and oxidation feed each other. ^[38][39]

This process itself is “oxidisation”, even though it does not need a gain or loss of oxygen.

Antioxidants: A Natural Defence

Everyday examples of oxidation include metal rust or when the inside of an avocado becomes brown.

Biologically-speaking, some oxidation is normal.

It is a side product of cellular function and can be an important defence mechanism. Helping to stop infections and kill harmful viruses and bacteria.

It only becomes an issue once the free radicals outgrow your body’s ability to keep them in check. Putting your body at risk of cell death, tissue damage, and disease.

This is where “antioxidants” come into play.

Like a charitable superhero… they mop up excess oxidisation by donating electrons to the free radicals. But unlike other cells, they do not become free radicals themselves.

By definition, an antioxidant is a substance that acts to slow or prevent oxidation.

Try this: You can see this for yourself. Cut an apple in half and squeeze fresh lemon juice on one half. Leave for a few minutes and see if you can spot a difference.

Plants and animals have to also contend with free radicals. ^[41]

So, this makes them the best sources to get your antioxidants from. Through consuming the likes of: ^[42]

• Vitamins

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is a water-soluble vitamin that is in many fruits and vegetables.

Being water-soluble means, it works in and around cells.

Vitamin E (α-tocopherol) is a fat-soluble vitamin that acts within a cell membrane. This is in green leafy vegetables and fatty foods like nuts, seeds, and fatty fish.

• Carotenoids

There are about 850 carotenoids in nature. ^[45]

But β-carotene, α-carotene, lycopene, and lutein are the main carotenoids with antioxidant ability.

Most carotenoids are in fruits and vegetables also. Especially those that are yellow, orange, red, and/or purple in colour.

• Phenolic compounds

Phenolic compounds are different families that exist in most vegetative food.

They serve many roles, including protecting you against sunlight damage and/or infections. ^[46]

They are also natural antibiotics that could stop bacteria from forming their biofilm fortresses. ^[47]

‘Tannins’ and ‘Flavonoids’ are the most notable phenolic compounds.

Of which “Quercitrin” is an interest for lupus as it has eased the symptoms of lupus nephritis in mice. ^[48][49]

So, again, step away from the supplements.

Walk towards the eating a variety of fruit and vegetables.

TAKE HOME MESSAGE

Antioxidants are a group of molecules, which work together – as a group. So, leave the supplements alone. Unless your doctor has diagnosed you with a clear deficiency.

If you have lupus, it appears the only antioxidant supplement to take is NAC. Or, N-acetyl-cysteine.

This is because it is a precursor of glutathione… your body’s most powerful antioxidant.

NAC can replenish glutathione levels and regulate T cells in those with systemic lupus. Decreasing disease activity.

Eating a diet that includes a good amount of fresh fruit and vegetables is the best option.

Especially one that includes fruit and vegetables of all colours. As the colour depends on the fruit or vegetable’s natural goodness (phytochemicals).

What’s more, a raw vegan diet shows to reverse lupus nephritis in two patients. With improvements in oxidative stress a possible reason. Fuelled by eating more antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables. ^[50]

You should aim to eat at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables each day.

Eating a mix of two fruits and three vegetables. ^[51]

A target most in the UK fail to meet by the way. ^[52]

Also, one serving is either a medium, fist-sized fruit or 75-100 grams of a vegetable.