The saga of BHT and BHA in life extension myths.

The phenolic antioxidants BHT and BHA have been widely used for many years in small concentrations for foods, pharmaceutical preparations and cosmetic products to prevent oxidation of labile lipoid components. Recently, in an aggressive campaign, daily 2 g doses of these compounds have been recommended, without scientific grounds, to combat senescence, genital herpes and cancer. However, information in the bio-medical literature reveals that the recommended human dose of 2 g/day is simply one order of magnitude below the lethal dose in animals. Obviously, these high dose levels, if not immediately lethal for humans, must produce pathological effects. Physicians and health authorities should be familiar with the consequences of prolonged administration of large doses of BHT and BHA and forbid their use except as fat stabilizers for food and pharmaceutical products.