Compositions containing purified nucleic acid wherein the nucleic acid acts as an antioxidant. Such compositions also include materials subject to oxidative damage such as antioxidants, vitamins, lipids, foods and pharmaceuticals. The invention also includes methods for preparing such compositions. These methods include dissolving the nucleic acid and a hydrophilic material in an aqueous solution, which may later be dried or further processed. Additionally, nucleic acid may be coupled with a molecule having hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions and then solubilized in a hydrophobic material. It may also be shaped into small aggregates and added to a hydrophobic material.