Recent research has disproved the widely held theory that antioxidants are able to help slow down or even stop the ageing process.

Many believe that anti-oxidants can help fight the ageing process by helping to neutralize the stress on cells caused by free radicals. However Dr. Gems and his team at the Institute of Healthy Ageing at University College, London, in conjunction with the Wellcome Trust, have recently concluded that antioxidants are not as effective as first thought.

The research team examined the nematode worm C. Elegans and the way that the worms’ genes controlled the removal of superoxide free radicals from their bodies. The research first showed that the worms were able to switch genes on and off and could also influence the amount of excess superoxides, allowing them to reduce the damage that the superoxides could do through oxidation.

The scientists found that there was no significant link between the lifespan of the worms and the amount of surplus superoxides that they got rid of, indicating that superoxides do not play a significant role in the ageing process.