February 17/Storrs, CT/Health & Medicine Week -- "The importance of antioxidants in reducing risks of chronic diseases has been well established; however, antioxidant intakes by a free-living population have not yet been estimated adequately. This study aimed to estimate total antioxidant intakes from diets and supplement sources in the U.S.," scientists report.
"The USDA Flavonoid Database, food consumption data and dietary supplement use data of 8,809 U.S. adults aged >= 19 years in NHANES 1999-2000 and 2001-2002 were used in this study. Daily total antioxidant intake was 208mg vitamin C (46% and 54% from diets and supplements, respectively), 20mg alpha-tocopherol (36% and 64%), 223mu g retinol activity equivalents carotenes (86% and 14%), 122mu g selenium (89% and 11%), and 210mg flavonoids (98% and 2%).