Walford recommends a combination of undernutrition, antioxidants and exercise as the most practical means currently available to help man extend his life-span. Scientists think antioxidants might help to reduce the promulgation of free radicals by absorption. Free radicals are highly reactive chemicals which carry around an extra electron. The random release of these free electrons can cause irreversible reactions to occur in the body. These reactions include attacks on the structure of DNA, proteins and molecules which can lead to chain reactions.
Free radicals can oxidize and slowly damage body tissues, particularly cell membranes.
The free-radical theory was first introduced to the gerontological community by Dr. Denham Harmon, working at the University of Nebraska School of Medicine in the late 1950's and 1960's. Cells undergoing division are particularly susceptible to free radicals. The attachment of the free electron can cause the polarity of the affected cell component to shift which will in turn cause mutation. These mutations can continue to replicate causing major problems as the organism ages due to faulty DNA sequences. If you have comments or other information relating to such topics as this paper covers, please upload to KeelyNet or send to the Vangard Sciences address as listed on the first page.