Question

Investigate and draw the structure and provide the name for 3 common antioxidants that are commonly consumed and write a detailed description of how these antioxidants work. Then, provide a mechanism clearly illustrating how one of the antioxidants works. Please 3 common antioxidants, not 2.... Thanks.

Answer 1

​​​​​​The three most common antioxidants are :-

• Vitamin C
• Vitamin E
• Beta carotene

​​​​​​Structures of the same are given below.

Antioxidants are compounds that inhibit oxidation. The human body needs to maintain a certain balance between free radicals and antioxidants. When this equilibrium is disrupted, it can lead to oxidative stress.

• The primary antioxidants are able to react directly with free radicals by transforming them to more stable, nonradical products. Hence, primary antioxidants play an important role in lipid oxidation.
• The secondary antioxidants work indirectly on limiting lipid oxidation. Metal chelating ability of a secondary antioxidant is an important property for antioxidants in food systems because metal-induced lipid oxidation is pronounced in food products due to the presence of, e.g. iron.

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