Supplements for antioxidant support

21 compounds relevant to antioxidant support, ranked by overall evidence grade.

Overall grade: Grade A
Last revised: Jul 10, 2026; 21
graded outcomes: 0
references listed

Assembled by the app from other entries in this library. It adds no evidence of its own — follow the links to the entries it draws on.

1 at grade A · 3 at grade B · 16 at grade C · 1 at grade D — 21 graded rows

What is known

Each outcome with its grade (how strong the evidence is, A to D), the size of the effect where the entry records one, and how often studies agree.

Outcome	Grade	Effect size	Agreement
Vitamin CAn essential antioxidant and enzyme cofactor — cures scurvy, modestly shortens colds, and triples plant-iron absorption.	Evidence grade A	Unclear	mixed
N-Acetylcysteine (NAC)A glutathione precursor with real mucolytic and psychiatric-adjunct evidence — and the antidote for acetaminophen overdose.	Evidence grade B	Unclear	mixed
Alpha-Lipoic AcidAn antioxidant with genuine evidence for diabetic neuropathy symptoms and modest insulin-sensitivity effects.	Evidence grade B	Unclear	mixed
Lutein & ZeaxanthinEye-protective carotenoids with real evidence for slowing age-related macular degeneration.	Evidence grade B	Unclear	mixed
Vitamin EA fat-soluble antioxidant that fixes a rare deficiency and, at high doses, disappointed almost every disease-prevention trial it entered.	Evidence grade C	Unclear	mixed
SeleniumA trace mineral with a narrow safe window — correct a deficiency, don't chase antioxidant megadoses.	Evidence grade C	Unclear	mixed
TaurineA conditionally-essential amino acid with broad but mostly modest effects on exercise, blood pressure, and metabolic markers.	Evidence grade C	Unclear	mixed
Milk Thistle (Silymarin)A liver botanical with plausible mechanisms and disappointingly inconsistent hard outcomes.	Evidence grade C	Unclear	mixed
Green Tea Extract (EGCG)Modest metabolic and cardiovascular benefits from catechins — and a real, if uncommon, liver-toxicity signal at high concentrated doses.	Evidence grade C	Unclear	mixed
SulforaphaneA broccoli-sprout compound that switches on the body's own antioxidant defenses — real biomarker effects, early clinical data.	Evidence grade C	Unclear	mixed
GlutathioneThe master antioxidant — better raised by making it (NAC, glycine) than by swallowing it, though liposomal forms help.	Evidence grade C	Unclear	mixed
Olive Leaf ExtractAn oleuropein-rich extract with modest blood-pressure data and antioxidant claims.	Evidence grade C	Unclear	mixed
AstaxanthinA potent carotenoid antioxidant with modest skin-photoprotection and exercise-recovery signals.	Evidence grade C	Unclear	mixed
LycopeneThe tomato carotenoid with modest prostate and cardiovascular signals — better from food than pills.	Evidence grade C	Unclear	mixed
Pycnogenol (Pine Bark)A pine-bark polyphenol with broad small-trial signals for circulation, blood pressure, and skin — much of it single-source.	Evidence grade C	Unclear	mixed
Grape Seed ExtractA procyanidin extract with modest blood-pressure and edema data.	Evidence grade C	Unclear	mixed
MoringaA nutrient-dense 'superfood' leaf with early glucose and lipid signals — more food than medicine.	Evidence grade C	Unclear	mixed
ErgothioneineA mushroom-derived antioxidant your body has a dedicated transporter for — a 'longevity vitamin' candidate with association, not proof.	Evidence grade C	Unclear	mixed
Beta-CaroteneA provitamin-A carotenoid that's healthy from food but became the cautionary tale of supplements — high doses raised lung-cancer risk in smokers.	Evidence grade C	Unclear	mixed
BilberryAn anthocyanin-rich berry for eye and vascular health — the WWII 'night vision' legend is a myth, the vascular data are real-ish.	Evidence grade C	Unclear	mixed
ChagaAn antioxidant-rich fungus with essentially no human trials — and a real oxalate/kidney caution.	Evidence grade D	Unclear	mixed

Vitamin CEvidence grade A
An essential antioxidant and enzyme cofactor — cures scurvy, modestly shortens colds, and triples plant-iron absorption.
Unclearmixed
N-Acetylcysteine (NAC)Evidence grade B
A glutathione precursor with real mucolytic and psychiatric-adjunct evidence — and the antidote for acetaminophen overdose.
Unclearmixed
Alpha-Lipoic AcidEvidence grade B
An antioxidant with genuine evidence for diabetic neuropathy symptoms and modest insulin-sensitivity effects.
Unclearmixed
Lutein & ZeaxanthinEvidence grade B
Eye-protective carotenoids with real evidence for slowing age-related macular degeneration.
Unclearmixed
Vitamin EEvidence grade C
A fat-soluble antioxidant that fixes a rare deficiency and, at high doses, disappointed almost every disease-prevention trial it entered.
Unclearmixed
SeleniumEvidence grade C
A trace mineral with a narrow safe window — correct a deficiency, don't chase antioxidant megadoses.
Unclearmixed
TaurineEvidence grade C
A conditionally-essential amino acid with broad but mostly modest effects on exercise, blood pressure, and metabolic markers.
Unclearmixed
Milk Thistle (Silymarin)Evidence grade C
A liver botanical with plausible mechanisms and disappointingly inconsistent hard outcomes.
Unclearmixed
Green Tea Extract (EGCG)Evidence grade C
Modest metabolic and cardiovascular benefits from catechins — and a real, if uncommon, liver-toxicity signal at high concentrated doses.
Unclearmixed
SulforaphaneEvidence grade C
A broccoli-sprout compound that switches on the body's own antioxidant defenses — real biomarker effects, early clinical data.
Unclearmixed
GlutathioneEvidence grade C
The master antioxidant — better raised by making it (NAC, glycine) than by swallowing it, though liposomal forms help.
Unclearmixed
Olive Leaf ExtractEvidence grade C
An oleuropein-rich extract with modest blood-pressure data and antioxidant claims.
Unclearmixed
AstaxanthinEvidence grade C
A potent carotenoid antioxidant with modest skin-photoprotection and exercise-recovery signals.
Unclearmixed
LycopeneEvidence grade C
The tomato carotenoid with modest prostate and cardiovascular signals — better from food than pills.
Unclearmixed
Pycnogenol (Pine Bark)Evidence grade C
A pine-bark polyphenol with broad small-trial signals for circulation, blood pressure, and skin — much of it single-source.
Unclearmixed
Grape Seed ExtractEvidence grade C
A procyanidin extract with modest blood-pressure and edema data.
Unclearmixed
MoringaEvidence grade C
A nutrient-dense 'superfood' leaf with early glucose and lipid signals — more food than medicine.
Unclearmixed
ErgothioneineEvidence grade C
A mushroom-derived antioxidant your body has a dedicated transporter for — a 'longevity vitamin' candidate with association, not proof.
Unclearmixed
Beta-CaroteneEvidence grade C
A provitamin-A carotenoid that's healthy from food but became the cautionary tale of supplements — high doses raised lung-cancer risk in smokers.
Unclearmixed
BilberryEvidence grade C
An anthocyanin-rich berry for eye and vascular health — the WWII 'night vision' legend is a myth, the vascular data are real-ish.
Unclearmixed
ChagaEvidence grade D
An antioxidant-rich fungus with essentially no human trials — and a real oxalate/kidney caution.
Unclearmixed

What is uncertain

Read off the same rows as above. Nothing here is added that the entry does not itself record.

Thin evidence: Vitamin E (grade C); Selenium (grade C); Taurine (grade C); Milk Thistle (Silymarin) (grade C); Green Tea Extract (EGCG) (grade C); Sulforaphane (grade C); Glutathione (grade C); Olive Leaf Extract (grade C); Astaxanthin (grade C); Lycopene (grade C); Pycnogenol (Pine Bark) (grade C); Grape Seed Extract (grade C); Moringa (grade C); Ergothioneine (grade C); Beta-Carotene (grade C); Bilberry (grade C); Chaga (grade D).
Studies disagree: Vitamin C (mixed agreement); N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) (mixed agreement); Alpha-Lipoic Acid (mixed agreement); Lutein & Zeaxanthin (mixed agreement).

The evidence in words

The shortlist

Every compound in the knowledge base tagged to antioxidant support, ordered by how strong its overall evidence is. Start at the top; the grade is the honest filter.

Worth considering first

Vitamin C (A) — An essential antioxidant and enzyme cofactor — cures scurvy, modestly shortens colds, and triples plant-iron absorption. · N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) (B) — A glutathione precursor with real mucolytic and psychiatric-adjunct evidence — and the antidote for acetaminophen overdose. · Alpha-Lipoic Acid (B) — An antioxidant with genuine evidence for diabetic neuropathy symptoms and modest insulin-sensitivity effects. · Lutein & Zeaxanthin (B) — Eye-protective carotenoids with real evidence for slowing age-related macular degeneration.

Lower-evidence options

Vitamin E (C) — A fat-soluble antioxidant that fixes a rare deficiency and, at high doses, disappointed almost every disease-prevention trial it entered. · Selenium (C) — A trace mineral with a narrow safe window — correct a deficiency, don't chase antioxidant megadoses. · Taurine (C) — A conditionally-essential amino acid with broad but mostly modest effects on exercise, blood pressure, and metabolic markers. · Milk Thistle (Silymarin) (C) — A liver botanical with plausible mechanisms and disappointingly inconsistent hard outcomes. · Green Tea Extract (EGCG) (C) — Modest metabolic and cardiovascular benefits from catechins — and a real, if uncommon, liver-toxicity signal at high concentrated doses. · Sulforaphane (C) — A broccoli-sprout compound that switches on the body's own antioxidant defenses — real biomarker effects, early clinical data. · Glutathione (C) — The master antioxidant — better raised by making it (NAC, glycine) than by swallowing it, though liposomal forms help. · Olive Leaf Extract (C) — An oleuropein-rich extract with modest blood-pressure data and antioxidant claims. · Astaxanthin (C) — A potent carotenoid antioxidant with modest skin-photoprotection and exercise-recovery signals. · Lycopene (C) — The tomato carotenoid with modest prostate and cardiovascular signals — better from food than pills. · Pycnogenol (Pine Bark) (C) — A pine-bark polyphenol with broad small-trial signals for circulation, blood pressure, and skin — much of it single-source. · Grape Seed Extract (C) — A procyanidin extract with modest blood-pressure and edema data. · Moringa (C) — A nutrient-dense 'superfood' leaf with early glucose and lipid signals — more food than medicine. · Ergothioneine (C) — A mushroom-derived antioxidant your body has a dedicated transporter for — a 'longevity vitamin' candidate with association, not proof. · Beta-Carotene (C) — A provitamin-A carotenoid that's healthy from food but became the cautionary tale of supplements — high doses raised lung-cancer risk in smokers. · Bilberry (C) — An anthocyanin-rich berry for eye and vascular health — the WWII 'night vision' legend is a myth, the vascular data are real-ish. · Chaga (D) — An antioxidant-rich fungus with essentially no human trials — and a real oxalate/kidney caution.

Goes with

Vitamin CGrade AEvidence grade A
N-Acetylcysteine (NAC)Grade BEvidence grade B
Alpha-Lipoic AcidGrade BEvidence grade B
Lutein & ZeaxanthinGrade BEvidence grade B
Vitamin EGrade CEvidence grade C
SeleniumGrade CEvidence grade C
TaurineGrade CEvidence grade C
Milk Thistle (Silymarin)Grade CEvidence grade C

Entries that share this one's tags or conditions.

Alpha-Lipoic Acid for Diabetic neuropathyEvidence grade B — Symptom reliefEvidence grade B
Alpha-Lipoic Acid for Diabetic neuropathy symptomsEvidence grade B — Including IV dataEvidence grade B
Alpha-Lipoic Acid for Insulin sensitivity / glucoseEvidence grade B — ModestEvidence grade B
Alpha-Lipoic Acid: dosage and how to take it300–600 mg/day, empty stomach.Evidence grade B

Sources

This entry lists no references of its own — it is assembled from the entries it links to, whose sources are on their pages.

Last revised Jul 10, 2026. A grade is this entry's reading of the evidence, not medical advice.