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MEASURING OXIDATIVE STRESS
Free-radicals are widely
regarded as the biggest cause of AGING. It is the oxidative
stress generated by free-radicals that is so damaging
to our cells and most Anti Aging experts claim that
this is what leads to the diseases of AGING.
What we need is a way
to measure oxidative stress so that we can have some
idea of the extent to which our cells are rusting.
This has been the focus
of laboratories around the world and as reported in
the International Journal of Anti Aging Medicine there
are a number of tests, which assess oxidative stress.
Lipid peroxidation
This is a test that
assays the extent to which polyunsaturated fatty acids
lining the walls of our cells are attacked by free-radicals
resulting in the formation of lipid peroxides. Lipid
peroxides can be degraded to form another compound called
4-hydroxynonenal, which can also be detected by means
of a specific assay.
Lipoprotein oxidation
LDL, which you would
know as the bad cholesterol is equally vulnerable to
oxidative damage and what laboratories now do is to
measure the level of autoantibodies generated by oxidised
LDL. This means that the immune system has been provoked
into action by the development of oxidised LDL and is
trying to rid the body of this toxic compound.
DNA Oxidation
Oxidative damage to
DNA can lead to the formation of a substance known as
8-hydroxy-2’deoxyguanosine, which, if not eliminated
by repair enzymes, results in specific mutations that
can lead to cancer. Some of these tests are available
at laboratories near you and these are the kinds of
tests, which will herald a new era in preventive medicine.
This cutting edge technology
will have to be embraced by the doctors of the 21st
century if they want to stay in touch with Anti Aging
Medicine the medicine for the new millennium.
Bondi
Family Health Centre
Phone 02 9365 1333
Int: 612 9365 1333
260a Bondi Road
Bondi NSW 2066
AUSTRALIA
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