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Cactus Shows More Antioxidant Power than Vitamin C

Scientists in Palermo, Italy claim that cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) fruit consumption decreases oxidative stress in healthy humans. In fact, they found that cactus pear fruit positively affects the body's redox balance (helping maintain a healthy oxidative balance), decreases oxidative damage to lipids and improves antioxidant status in healthy humans.


In a randomized, crossover, double-treatment study, 18 healthy volunteers received either 250 g of fresh cactus fruit pulp or 75 mg of vitamin C twice daily for two weeks. Then after a six-week break, they switched. Their blood was analyzed both before and after each two-week session.

Researchers found that both the cactus pear and vitamin C supplement groups had higher vitamin C and E levels. However, after eating cactus pear fruit, volunteers had more signs of antioxidant effects than the vitamin C group. Researchers weren't sure why vitamin E levels went up since neither cactus pear nor vitamin C supplements are a source of vitamin E.

Scientists concluded that consumption of cactus pear fruit improved oxidative stress in the body. They said that supplementation with vitamin C at a comparable dosage enhanced overall antioxidant defense but did not significantly affect body oxidative stress.

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
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