Study finds too many antioxidants could harm future generations

Are antioxidants always safe? New research from Texas A&M University suggests that overconsumption of certain antioxidant supplements may have unexpected effects on future generations.

The study, published in Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology, found that male mice given high doses of specific antioxidants for nearly six weeks produced offspring with noticeable developmental changes in skull and facial structure—even though the fathers themselves remained healthy.

Lead researcher Dr. Michael Golding explained, “When we sat down to think it through, it makes sense. 

You take a multivitamin to ensure that you're in balance, but if the thing you're taking to maintain balance is unbalanced—if the dose of antioxidants is too high—then it’s not doing a good thing.”

The research highlights physical changes in female offspring, including closer-set eyes and smaller skulls, traits sometimes associated with conditions such as fetal alcohol syndrome. 

“There’s a very commonly accepted truism in pediatric medicine that the face mirrors the brain, because the brain and face form at the same time,” Golding noted, though the study did not confirm effects on brain development.

While the findings are based on animal models and cannot be directly applied to humans, they raise caution for men who regularly consume high-dose antioxidant supplements, particularly those planning to have children.

Previous studies have also suggested that excessive antioxidant intake can diminish the benefits of exercise, and Golding emphasized that “sperm health is another performance metric; it’s just not one that we think about in everyday life.”