Antioxidants

Antioxidants are molecules that protect cells by neutralizing reactive oxygen species (ROS) — unstable, highly reactive molecules that cause oxidative stress.

Common natural antioxidants include vitamins C and E, glutathione and enzymes like superoxide dismutase. By limiting oxidative damage to proteins, lipids and DNA, antioxidants maintain cellular health and normal nervous system function.
In pain medicine, antioxidants are important because oxidative stress plays a central role in sustaining inflammation and sensitizing nociceptors. Excess ROS amplifies pain signaling in both peripheral and central pathways. Studies show that low antioxidant defenses are often linked with conditions such as arthritis, neuropathy, and fibromyalgia.
Antioxidants can be obtained through diet, supplements or endogenous cellular defenses. More recently, interventional approaches such as pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) have been shown to reduce oxidative stress indirectly, by shifting redox balance at the cellular level. This highlights how antioxidants — whether biological or therapy-induced — are part of the body’s natural pain-protective system.