The Oxidative Stress Basic Profile assesses the balance between oxidative stress and the body's antioxidant potential. It also assesses the body’s enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant systems.
Oxidative Stress Basic Profile can help identify the underlying causes of many chronic diseases and clinical disorders, allowing appropriate individualized therapeutic interventions to be planned.
What is Oxidative Stress?
Oxygen is essential for all living organisms because it allows energy production from organic matter. The result of this process of internal combustion in the body, in addition to energy production, is the creation of byproducts called reactive oxygen species. These oxygen radicals are very reactive molecules because they can oxidize the functional molecules of the cell, i.e., its lipids, proteins, and DNA, changing their structure and eventually causing oxidative damage to the cell. The human body uses typically reactive oxygen species in various functions, such as in the fight against infections. The use of reactive oxygen species for the benefit of the body and the simultaneous protection of its other molecules is achieved through antioxidant defense systems. Antioxidant defense mechanisms include antioxidant enzymes (e.g., dismutase, catalase) and antioxidant non-enzyme systems (e.g., vitamins C and E, glutathione, carotenoids, etc.).
Reactive oxygen species can result from the body's normal functioning or exposure to environmental pollutants such as exhaust fumes and cigarette smoke, alcohol consumption, ionizing radiation, infections, and certain medications.
When the production of reactive oxygen species exceeds the regulatory capacity of antioxidant systems, then oxidative damage occurs to biomolecules (proteins, lipids, DNA), cell organelles and the cell itself, tissues, organs, and organ systems, and finally, in the body itself, a condition described as Oxidative Stress.
Oxidative stress occurs when large amounts of free radicals are created that cannot (or do not have time) be neutralized by the body's antioxidant systems. The chronic effect of oxidative stress can cause many pathological conditions, ranging from cardiovascular diseases and cancer to chronic infections, inflammatory diseases, and neurodegenerative diseases. In addition, numerous scientific studies claim that oxidative stress is the most important cause of aging.
Why is it necessary to test Oxidative Stress?
Even though medical doctors and patients are increasingly more aware of the importance of free radicals and oxidative stress, its testing and monitoring are still not widespread. The most important reason is that in the early stages of oxidative stress (before the onset of the disease), there are no specific or non-specific symptoms, so it is not diagnosed and treated immediately. Surprisingly, medical doctors often recommend that patients take dietary supplements with antioxidants or antioxidant diets without any tests to assess whether the patient is in a state of increased free radicals or has a reduced antioxidant capacity.
Free radicals are needed for various body functions, such as the normal function of phagocytosis to destroy microorganisms, aging cells, or even cancer cells. Recent studies also show that reactive oxygen species act as an intracellular and intercellular signal for apoptosis (cell death), gene expression, and cell activation.
Thus, the constant intake of antioxidants in large quantities carries the risk of a complete lack of radicals and their downward imbalance, which is just as dangerous as oxidative stress.
Which diseases is Oxidative Stress involved in?
Oxidative Stress is involved in more than 100 diseases, including:
- Aging
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer's, Parkinson's)
- Lung diseases
- Cancer
- Autoimmune diseases
- Cataract and Μacular degeneration
