What is Oxidative Stress?

Most medical researchers agree that Oxidative Stress is caused by mitochondrial dysfunction, which leads to the overproduction of reactive oxygen species or ROS.  The ROS compounds include hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radical, and superoxide radical.  These ROS compounds oxidize biomolecules including DNA.  Elevated ROS levels can also wreak havoc on gene regulatory systems.  The two sources of Oxidative Stress include General Oxidative Stress and Blood Oxidative Stress.  As the name implies, General Oxidative Stress is not defined by cell or tissue type, but suggests that some or all of the body is generating high levels of ROS.  On the other hand, Blood Oxidative Stress is defined as White Blood Cells and Platelets overproducing ROS, which has been published.

What is Blood Oxidative Stress?

White Blood Cells and Platelets have been reported to generate high levels of ROS in normal weight humans and congestive heart failure patients. It has been hypothesized that many of the chronic diseases, including Heart Disease and Type 2 Diabetes may be caused by long-term, elevated Blood Oxidative Stress or BLOS.  An increase in the risk of Cancers may also be due to long-term BLOS, since ROS is known to cause DNA damage and Cancer is the accumulation of DNA damage.  Learn more about Blood Oxidative Stress by watching this YouTube video.

What causes Oxidative Stress?

Nobody has identified the underlying cause of Oxidative Stress.  Blood Oxidative Stress may be the more prevalent type of Oxidative Stress and it is thought that diet may be the underlying cause.

How does Oxidative Stress impact Health?

Oxidative Stress has been reported in individuals suffering from a long list of chronic diseases including Heart Disease, Type 2 Diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, and more.

How can I measure Oxidative Stress?

Currently, there is only a urine test kit that measures elevated oxidative stress.  Glixin developed a new blood test for directly measuring Blood Oxidative Stress.

How to treat Oxidative Stress?

Lifestyle choices may be the key to treating Oxidative Stress.  Regular measuring of Oxidative Stress will be needed to identify the lifestyle choice causing the problem.  Dietary choices, improved fitness, and antioxidant supplements may be helpful in managing Oxidative Stress.

Does Oxidative Stress cause Diabetes?

Type 2 Diabetes research focuses on elevated blood glucose levels, but this may be a symptom of Oxidative Stress.  Elevated levels of Oxidative Stress can inhibit insulin production and glucose transport rate from blood to adjacent tissue.  The management of Oxidative Stress may be the key to controlling Type 2 Diabetes.

Does Oxidative Stress increase risk of Cancer?

Oxidative Stress is the overproduction of reactive oxygen species or ROS, which are known to damage DNA.  Cancer is the accumulation of DNA damage, so long-term, elevated Oxidative Stress may be causing an increase in the risk of Cancers.  The management of Oxidative Stress may reduce the rate of the accumulation of DNA damage, which should reduce the risk of Cancers into the future.