The current thinking that oxygen free radicals are responsible for the development of numerous diseases, including cancer and arthritis, may be a red herring, says a team of UK scientists.Their study, which challenges the theory behind drug development worth millions of dollars, would also call into question the use of antioxidants to counter the build-up of free radicals. The paper, published in today’s issue of Nature (vol 427, no 6977, p853) may hold profound implications for the nutraceutical industry. The researchers say that all the theories relating to the cause of disease by oxygen free radicals and the therapeutic value of antioxidants must be re-evaluated.
