But as we age, free radicals gradually gain an upper hand and disrupt the lives of our cells. That was the theme of a conference on the biology and chemistry of aging held last week at the University of Kansas. Their promiscuous hunger to snap up electrons to regain their balance. That hunger drives them to snuggle up to atoms or molecules inside proteins, enzymes, RNA and DNA within our cells. Gradually, proteins that had been tightly folded slacken.
Enzymes lose their teeth.
DNA recipes don't work anymore. Chemicals called antioxidants fight free radicals. Antioxidants are found in vitamins like C and E, in dietary supplements like selenium and in fruits and vegetables. One speaker at the KU conference made it clear you can go overboard with supplements, says Mary L. Michaelis, KU professor of pharmacology and toxicology. But in moderation they're probably not a bad idea.