Science Questions

Do antioxidants survive stomach acid?

Do antioxidants in food and supplements really survive stomach acids? Is there any way to ensure that they get into the blood stream? Chris

Yes they do.  If we take, for example, vitamin C, which is actually ascorbic acid, which in theory shouldn't be broken down in an acid environment.  We do rely on absorbing vitamins to remain healthy, so the body must have evolved mechanisms to absorb these without them being broken down.

September 2007