What Are Oxidants? Make an Appointment Ask a Question Search Conditions National Jewish Health immunology researcher Brian Day, PhD explains what oxidants are and how they cause disease and inflammation. Related Videos How The Lungs Protect From Flu Creating Plant-Based Compounds to Prevent Infections Finding a Way to Prevent Chronic Infection in Cystic Fibrosis What is Clinical Research? FAQs Answered by National Jewish Health Transcript Oxidants are reactive molecules that are produced both inside your body and the environment that can react with other cellular molecules in your body such as protein, DNA and lipids. When it does that, it damages molecules and it’s what causes disease and inflammation. An antioxidant is a molecule, as the term suggests, that defends you against those oxidants. It actually intercepts those oxidants so they can’t react with your cellular macromolecules, therefor protecting you. Want to use this on your website? Fill out the content usage request form and then copy this code: