So what exactly is this thing called synergy and what has it to do with vitamins? Simply put synergy is the action of working together or in concert. Consider for example the beneficial anitioxidant effects gained from eating vitamin-rich foods.
How come these same results cannot be duplicated in clinically controlled studies in which volunteers have taken a specific antioxidant (vitamin) in doses akin to getting the vitamin via natural food sources...
It is now believed that there're a number of factors at play here. The role of antioxidants is to counter the damage caused by free radicals. The antioxidants (vitamins) achieve this by scavaging the unpaired electron from the free radical ultimately rendering it harmless. During this process however, the antioxidant is chemically altered itself. A lot of antioxidants require the presence of other antioxidants for regeneration. This is of particular importance because free radical formation and activity is an on-going process which requires the presence of sufficient antioxidants to counter the resultant cellular damage. If there are insufficient quantities of antioxidants or perhaps a particular antioxidant is missing (required for regeneration of another antioxidant) then the cycle of repair is impaired and the full onslaught of free radical activity cannot be adequately neutralized. This is why it is so important to supplement with a wide spectrum of antioxidants (vitamins) and in the correct dose.
