: Should antioxidants such as turmeric, resveratrol, glutathione, etc. be taken at bedtime, and if so, what explains it? I read on https://thelivingproofinstitute.com/time-day-supplements (mirror): It is best to take antioxidants

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This question has an implicit claim in it: that taking antioxidants is effective in the first place. As that is very much in doubt now from the start, it explains very well why there is no consensus over when to take them. Especially if all these substances are all lumped into that one basket called "antioxidants".

Our Cochrane review from 2008 demonstrated that antioxidant supplements seem to increase mortality. This review is now updated.

We found no evidence to support antioxidant supplements for primary or secondary prevention. Beta-carotene and vitamin E seem to increase mortality, and so may higher doses of vitamin A. Antioxidant supplements need to be considered as medicinal products and should undergo sufficient evaluation before marketing.

Bjelakovic G, Nikolova D, Gluud LL, Simonetti RG, Gluud C: "Antioxidant supplements for prevention of mortality in healthy participants and patients with various diseases", 4 March 2012.

That makes the question unanswerable for all substances simply labeled "antioxidants", or leads to the conclusion that for this effect they are named for it doesn't matter. But it is questionable whether that being an antioxidant is a good thing or how much one would benefit from it. In my view that category represents mainly an outdated attempt of making sense of things.

We therefore would have to look at each of these substances and evaluate their effectiveness or mechanisms of action etc.

As an example, let's look at turmeric, a very promising agent for a variety of ailments, that I love, personally:

Background

Turmeric, a plant related to ginger, is grown throughout India, other parts of Asia, and Central America. Javanese turmeric (Curcuma xanthorrhiz) is a different plant and not discussed in this fact sheet.

Historically, turmeric has been used in Ayurvedic medicine, primarily in South Asia, for many conditions, including breathing problems, rheumatism, serious pain, and fatigue.

Today, turmeric is used as a dietary supplement for inflammation; arthritis; stomach, skin, liver, and gallbladder problems; cancer; and other conditions.
Turmeric is a common spice and a major ingredient in curry powder. Its primary active ingredients, curcuminoids, are yellow and used to color foods and cosmetics.

Turmeric’s underground stems (rhizomes) are dried and made into capsules, tablets, teas, or extracts. Turmeric powder is also made into a paste for skin conditions.

How Much Do We Know?

We have a lot of research, including studies done in people, on turmeric for a variety of health conditions.

What Have We Learned?

Claims that curcuminoids found in turmeric help to reduce inflammation aren’t supported by strong studies.

Preliminary studies found that curcuminoids may


Reduce the number of heart attacks bypass patients had after surgery
Control knee pain from osteoarthritis as well as ibuprofen did
Reduce the skin irritation that often occurs after radiation treatments for breast cancer.
Other preliminary studies in people have looked at curcumin, a type of curcuminoid, for different cancers, colitis, diabetes, surgical pain, and as an ingredient in mouthwash for reducing plaque.
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) has studied curcumin for Alzheimer’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and prostate and colon cancer.


What Do We Know About Safety?
Turmeric in amounts tested for health purposes is generally considered safe when taken by mouth or applied to the skin.
High doses or long-term use of turmeric may cause gastrointestinal problems.

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Medicine, 2016

Or to put more bluntly,

There is little reliable evidence to support the use of turmeric for any health condition because few clinical trials have been conducted.


Preliminary findings from animal and other laboratory studies suggest that a chemical found in turmeric — called curcumin — may have anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antioxidant properties, but these findings have not been confirmed in people. (As quoted from Turmeric: Tasty in Curry, Questionable as Medicine, 2014)

The above is not meant to wholly dismiss curcuma, or the question, but a reminder to see it as Turmeric: lots of potential, but beware of the hype.

As the question is quite broad and about a lot of those substances or preparations, let me close with: digestion, metabolism etc. at night time are different. That probably effects bioavailability and pharmacodynamics a lot. I suspect that it is the effect or the same effect size for all the substances mentioned.

Although that is speculation, it is also the current line of inquiry for researchers:

Further randomized, double blinded clinical trials with a greater sample size, homogenous test and tasks of cognitive or memory function, as well as longer duration of treatment and follow-up are compulsory to achieve more conclusive results. In addition, it is suggested to conduct future clinical trials by evaluation of resveratrol products with improved bioavailability by the use of novel methods such as nanoformulations or in combination with metabolism inhibitors.

Mohammad Hosein Farzaei & Roja Rahimi & Shekoufeh Nikfar & Mohammad Abdollahi: "Effect of resveratrol on cognitive and memory performance and mood: A meta-analysis of 225 patients", Pharmacological Research
Volume 128, February 2018, Pages 338-344. DOI