Antioxidant vitamins work by reducing the cellular damage that naturally occurs in the system as a result of stress and the release of free radicals from oxygen. Studies are showing that these vitamins can prevent, and in some cases treat disease. For example, an analysis of dietary questionnaires filled out by 87,000 nurses found that the amount of vitamin E obtained from food had almost no impact on cardiovascular disease. Of course, antioxidants are no substitute for a healthy lifestyle. Of course, antioxidants are no substitute for a healthy lifestyle.
Antioxidants probably do very little for advanced disease.
But certain eye diseases can be slowed if you take antioxidants in the early stages. Studies are demonstrating that the risk of cataract formation can be significantly reduced with vitamin C and E therapy. They were almost totally free of cataracts. These studies indicate that cataract formation appears to be related to diet as well as age. Age related macular degeneration is a disease that causes the nerves in the central retina to degenerate.