Research carried out on nematode worms suggests that even those worms that were given enhanced antioxidants in order to deal with free radicals did not live longer. The research team, from University College, London, published in the journal Genes and Development.
The idea that antioxidants can "mop up" free radicals and slow the ageing process has been around for about 50 years. But so far there has been no conclusive evidence to back up the theory.
The tiny nematode worm, despite appearing to be far-removed from the human species, is a useful tool for scientists who want to explore how our bodies work.
They share many genes with humans, and, crucially, have a lifespan measured in days, which allows scientists to get clues about long-term changes.
The UCL team, led by Dr David Gems, genetically manipulated nematodes so that their bodies were able to "mop up" surplus free radicals.
This in theory, should give them an advantage over normal nematodes in terms of ageing and lifespan.
However, these worms lived just as long as the others, suggesting that "oxidative stress" is less of a factor in the ageing of our cells and tissues as some have suggested.
