In the last few years, antioxidants have been touted and heralded for a number of potential health and longevity benefits (not all of which, to date, are entirely proven).

In fact, the endless stream of commercials, infomercials, books, pamphlets, and talk show sessions devoted to the near-celebrity status of antioxidants have made the majority of us believers in them. And if you ask the casual person on the street what antioxidants are for, you'll likely get one of the following answers: "They help you live longer"; "They prevent disease"; "They make you healthy".

And, as time will tell, they may or may not do all of those things. However, few of those respondents would know that two specific antioxidants may be helpful for, of all things, scuba diving.

On this subject, the Journal of Physiology has reported an important study that may help stop diving problems, especially circulation and high blood pressure.

The study included seven expert divers and two antioxidant vitamins, vitamins C and E. The researchers in charge of the study were from the University of Split School of Medicine in Croatia and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology.

The team carried out the research by allowing the divers to perform two 30 minute 30-metre dives, 24 hours apart. This depth and time limit is similar to most recreational dives enjoyed by scuba divers, though the study is hoping to help those who dive recreationally and professionally for longer time periods.

They gave the divers quantities of both vitamin C and E, two hours before the second dive. Six of the seven divers came back in eight months for another trial, where some were given placebos and others were given the correct dosage of vitamins.

The researchers concluded that the antioxidants helped to improve vascular endothelial function, allowing the cells lining the blood vessels to work properly, instead of creating what is commonly known as endothelial dysfunction. Endothelial dysfunction is a physiological dysfunction of normal biochemical processes carried out by the cells that line the inner surface of all blood vessels, including arteries, veins and the innermost lining of the heart and lymphatics. endothelial dysfunction is believed to be caused by gas bubbles invading the circulatory system during and after decompression.

High blood pressure is also very common for divers and is responsible for other conditions, such as fluid on the lungs.

Although the study results showed that taking the antioxidants, vitamins C and E, before a dive could be helpful in eliminating illnesses caused by decompression, diving experts aren’t convinced.

They agree that antioxidants remove excess by-products and aren’t harmful, yet have stated they believe the overall effect is extremely limited. Longer studies with more subjects will have to be conducted before the positive results can be seen as conclusive.