Antioxidants
The body synthesizes many antioxidants (e.g., superoxide dismutase)
but relies on food for others (e.g., vitamin E).
Common food-source antioxidants include vitamins E and C,
b-carotene and other carotenoids, selenium and thiols. Fruits
and vegetables are good sources of flavonoids, polyphenols and
anthocyanidins. The following discussion will focus on vitamins
E and C and selenium as antioxidant key nutritional factors
in foods for young adult cats because: 1) they are biologically
important, 2) they act synergistically (e.g., vitamin C and
selenium-containing glutathione peroxidase regenerate vitamin
E after it has reacted with a free radical), 3) of safety concerns
and 4) information regarding inclusion levels in pet foods is
usually readily available.