Plasma Vitamin A and C Status of In-School Adolescents And Associated Factors in Enugu State, Nigeria (Report‪)‬

INTRODUCTION The role of antioxidant nutrients in protecting the body against diseases cannot be over-emphasized. A wealth of epidemiological evidence links antioxidant nutrients and their rich food sources with a reduced risk of degenerative diseases. Vitamin A, C, and E are secondary antioxidants, which remove newly-formed free radicals before these can initiate chain reactions, consequently leading to cell damage and further free radical formation. Supplementation of vitamin A, C, and E significantly increases the level of superoxide dismutase, a primary antioxidant, which prevents the formation of new free radical species (1,2).