"Can antioxidants protect scuba divers?"

jaap · 3rd February 2007, 23:00

Quote: (Originally Posted by Steve)

In short, NO. The wonders of antioxidants are massively overstated and in actuality they are about as useful as tits on a bull. Hell, I'm crap at cellular physiology and I can see that it is all marketing BS.

I guess its more, say Cellular psychology

dteubner · 4th February 2007, 03:45

Quote: (Originally Posted by Steve)

In short, NO. The wonders of antioxidants are massively overstated and in actuality they are about as useful as tits on a bull. Hell, I'm crap at cellular physiology and I can see that it is all marketing BS.

Quite.

Whilst the presumed basis of CNS O2 toxicity is free radical excess and whist antioxidants in principle, on a cellular level, reduce free radical numbers, there is not (and indeed never will be) any evidence at all to suggest that if you take x amount of Vitamin E then you are safe to dive a set point of y.

If you want to take antioxidants because they stop aging or reduce your risk of heart disease then fine. If you act on the belief that taking antioxidants reduces your risk of CNS O2 toxicity then, well, we can just think of it as evolution in action.

Dave T

dteubner · 4th February 2007, 04:22

Quote: (Originally Posted by Mdemon)

(Lifted from elsewhere)

Didn't understand much of this. Any of you clever medical types explain what the benefit might be?

Can antioxidants protect scuba divers?

Right-oh.

I've read the original paper, which is interesting. It showed that a fairly provocative dive (30mins at 30m with 3minutes at 3m for deco) caused a reduction in the ability of the brachial artery to dilate in response to increased flow. This reduction was decreased (in principle improved) by taking Vitamins C and E prior to diving.

So what? Philosophically there is an major problem with ascribing significance to so called secondary markers, and no-one ever complains that "My flow mediated dilation is reduced". The real question is whether or not vitamins C and E reduce the risk of DCI. This study does not address that question in any way, and at the very most suggests that it might be worth further research.

Dave T

dom · 5th February 2007, 10:02

as previously stated antioxidants reduce the number of oxygen free radicals, these free radicals act to harden colestrol in the blood ie causing blood vessels to harden, increased o2 % and as a result increased ppo2 results in tec divers esp being exposed to higher levels of free radicals, combine this with a solid red meat eating diver and your chances of a banger increase, i take a supplement which has antioxidants as well as tea and red wine being good sources. for the kind of diving we do antioxidants should help in maintaining a good general health however you would want to be some hero to increase your ppo2 levels based on drinking lots of tea

dom

3rd February 2007, 23:00	#11 (permalink)
jaap Normal people worry me Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Other CCR RB80 / Clone Ray Other SCR Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Other CCR RB80 / Clone Ray Other SCR Home Build Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Stockholm Sweden Posts: 445	Re: "Can antioxidants protect scuba divers?" Quote: (Originally Posted by Steve) In short, NO. The wonders of antioxidants are massively overstated and in actuality they are about as useful as tits on a bull. Hell, I'm crap at cellular physiology and I can see that it is all marketing BS. I guess its more, say Cellular psychology __________________ My initials: JAAP
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4th February 2007, 03:45	#12 (permalink)
dteubner Pedant Current Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Adelaide, Australia Posts: 216	Re: "Can antioxidants protect scuba divers?" Quote: (Originally Posted by Steve) In short, NO. The wonders of antioxidants are massively overstated and in actuality they are about as useful as tits on a bull. Hell, I'm crap at cellular physiology and I can see that it is all marketing BS. Quite. Whilst the presumed basis of CNS O2 toxicity is free radical excess and whist antioxidants in principle, on a cellular level, reduce free radical numbers, there is not (and indeed never will be) any evidence at all to suggest that if you take x amount of Vitamin E then you are safe to dive a set point of y. If you want to take antioxidants because they stop aging or reduce your risk of heart disease then fine. If you act on the belief that taking antioxidants reduces your risk of CNS O2 toxicity then, well, we can just think of it as evolution in action. Dave T
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4th February 2007, 04:22	#13 (permalink)
dteubner Pedant Current Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Adelaide, Australia Posts: 216	Re: "Can antioxidants protect scuba divers?" Quote: (Originally Posted by Mdemon) (Lifted from elsewhere) Didn't understand much of this. Any of you clever medical types explain what the benefit might be? Can antioxidants protect scuba divers? Right-oh. I've read the original paper, which is interesting. It showed that a fairly provocative dive (30mins at 30m with 3minutes at 3m for deco) caused a reduction in the ability of the brachial artery to dilate in response to increased flow. This reduction was decreased (in principle improved) by taking Vitamins C and E prior to diving. So what? Philosophically there is an major problem with ascribing significance to so called secondary markers, and no-one ever complains that "My flow mediated dilation is reduced". The real question is whether or not vitamins C and E reduce the risk of DCI. This study does not address that question in any way, and at the very most suggests that it might be worth further research. Dave T
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5th February 2007, 10:02	#14 (permalink)
dom New Member Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: cork ireland Posts: 13	Re: "Can antioxidants protect scuba divers?" as previously stated antioxidants reduce the number of oxygen free radicals, these free radicals act to harden colestrol in the blood ie causing blood vessels to harden, increased o2 % and as a result increased ppo2 results in tec divers esp being exposed to higher levels of free radicals, combine this with a solid red meat eating diver and your chances of a banger increase, i take a supplement which has antioxidants as well as tea and red wine being good sources. for the kind of diving we do antioxidants should help in maintaining a good general health however you would want to be some hero to increase your ppo2 levels based on drinking lots of tea dom
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