Antioxidants have entered the era of therapeutic application. Potent antioxidant drugs such as probucol, carvedilol, and trimetazidine have been added to the cardiovascular armamentarium. Human epidemiological data suggest that the incidence of cardiovascular diseases is lowered by dietary supplementation with antioxidants such as vitamins C or E, particularly in combination with lipid-lowering drugs. However, epidemiological studies are not sufficient to establish causal relationships. Available results from several large-scale randomized trials with antioxidants do not yet allow the risk-to-benefit ratios for antioxidant supplements to be fully assessed. Nevertheless, the risk of many common and highly disabling human diseases may be reduced by increasing the intake of natural flavonoids and carotenoids, of minerals such as selenium, and of nutrients such as coenzyme Q10...