The vitamins we will look at have been known to scientists for many decades and more, not for their role as antioxidants, but for the benefits they conferred in other aspects of human health. In a sense, some of them were discovered by their absence.

For example, where early mariners came down with scurvy, it was eventually found to be caused by the absence of a previously unknown nutrient. This nutrient came to be known as Vitamin C.

In the past two or three decades, however, Vitamins A, C, and E have come to prominence, as well, for their properties as powerful antioxidants.

Synergism

For all of their effectiveness as antioxidants when acting on their own, Vitamin A, especially via Beta-Carotene, and Vitamin C, and Vitamin E confer an even stronger, synergistic effect when used in conjunction with one another.