In 1956, Denham Harman proposed a theory that chemical free radicals producing oxidative stress on living tissues are the primary mechanism of disease processes, and that anti-oxidants producing a counterveiling reducing effect on these free radicals should reduce disease processes and improve life span. The theory has not been substantiated, and most of it's preditions and implications have proven false.

This theory spawned a tremendously lucrative industry in health supplements. In the U.S. in 2003 supplements alone brought in $18.8 billion in sales. [1]

Many close analyses have shown the theory to be flawed. Here are some summary results:

• Multiple subsequent meta-analyses of Vitamin E supplementation studies have shown that while doses less than 400 IU seem to have a slight health benefit in poor areas of the world such as China, doses over 400 IU increase total morbidity. Details available in [2].
• Beta Carotine (Vitamin A) has been shown to increase the risk of death via carcinogenicity (cancer deaths).
• If we compare the mass of food eaten with the mass of any set of antioxidants consumed, the mass of the antioxidants is minuscule. [3]

Plenty of studies show fruits and vegetables to be healthy.

Plenty of well confirmed and well documented studies show that eating less, even to the point of near starvation, will extend your lifespan significantly and delay disease processes.

But the mechanisms of these supposed confirmations have not been clearly identified. After 50 years of a lot of studies showing generally nothing useful, I think it is high time to give up on the antioxidant theory.

Yet society has not yet come to this understanding. In fact most scientists and doctors still believe the antioxidant theory. Those closest to the matter understand, but somehow that message was never disseminated, or was never able to gain much traction in the industry, and subsequently in the public awareness.