What can I take to clear out damaged cells and free radicals?

There is no supplement that effectively "clears out" damaged cells and free radicals

The question reflects a common misconception about antioxidants and cellular health. While antioxidant supplements are heavily marketed for this purpose, the scientific evidence does not support their use for removing damaged cells or neutralizing free radicals in a clinically meaningful way.

Why Antioxidant Supplements Don't Work as Expected

The body already has sophisticated endogenous antioxidant systems (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, peroxiredoxins) that handle free radicals far more effectively than any supplement can. 1

• Nutritional antioxidants often fail to react appreciably with the relevant reactive species in the relevant cellular locations where they would need to act 1
• Many antioxidants marketed for this purpose cannot reach the specific cellular compartments (cytosol, mitochondria, nucleus) where oxidative damage occurs 1
• The half-life of most reactive species is milliseconds, making it nearly impossible for dietary supplements to intercept them before the body's own enzymes do 1

The Antioxidant Paradox

• Antioxidant supplements can actually act as pro-oxidants under certain conditions, potentially causing harm rather than benefit 1
• Many so-called antioxidants exert their effects through mechanisms completely independent of their antioxidant properties (such as activating the Nrf2-Keap1 xenobiotic response pathway) 1
• For example, vitamin E (α-tocopherol) does not react appreciably with hydrogen peroxide, one of the key reactive oxygen species 1

What the Evidence Shows About Specific Supplements

Clinical studies of antioxidant vitamin or mineral supplements have not demonstrated a reduction in cancer incidence, despite the theoretical rationale. 1

• The best advice is to consume antioxidants through food sources (vegetables and fruits) rather than supplements 1
• People who eat more antioxidant-rich foods may have lower risk for some cancers, but this benefit has not been replicated with isolated antioxidant supplements 1

Special Caution During Cancer Treatment

• Most oncologists advise against taking high-dose antioxidant supplements during chemotherapy or radiotherapy because antioxidants could theoretically repair oxidative damage to cancer cells that contributes to treatment effectiveness 1
• If you are receiving cancer treatment, avoid dietary supplements exceeding 100% of the Daily Value for antioxidant-type vitamins 1

The Only Evidence-Based Exception: Vitamin C for Wound Healing

Vitamin C at 1000 mg three times daily (3 g/day total) has specific evidence for supporting wound healing after surgery or amputation, but this works through collagen synthesis rather than "clearing out" damaged cells. 2

• Vitamin C functions as a cofactor for collagen synthesis and does provide antioxidant protection to the endothelium during wound healing 2
• This dosing is appropriate during acute healing phases (approximately 2-4 weeks) or until adequate wound healing is achieved 2
• Dividing the dose into three separate administrations (1000 mg TID) maximizes absorption due to saturable intestinal transporters 2

Critical Contraindications

Avoid vitamin C supplementation entirely if you have hemochromatosis or iron overload conditions, as vitamin C enhances iron absorption and can accelerate iron deposition, potentially causing cardiac complications. 2, 3

• If vitamin C is needed for other medical reasons in patients with iron overload, limit to 500 mg daily and only after physician discussion 3

The Bottom Line on "Clearing Out" Damaged Cells

• The body has its own autophagy and apoptosis mechanisms for removing damaged cells—no supplement can replicate or enhance these processes in a clinically meaningful way 1
• Assessing "total antioxidant capacity" (TAC) in blood is scientifically flawed and should be discontinued as a measure of health 1
• The concept of measuring or supplementing to "clear free radicals" is not supported by the biochemistry of how reactive species are actually handled in living tissues 1

What You Should Do Instead

• Focus on consuming a variety of antioxidant-rich foods (vegetables, fruits) as part of a balanced diet 1
• Avoid high-dose antioxidant supplements unless you have a specific medical indication (such as wound healing) 1, 2
• Be extremely cautious about claims that supplements can "detoxify" or "clear out" damaged cells—these claims lack scientific support 1