Antioxidants are important for the body’s immune system and to protect the body against free radical attack. Randox provides a range of reagents to assess all three levels of the body’s defence system (preventative antioxidants, scavenging antioxidants and repair enzymes). Key tests include Total Antioxidant Status (TAS), Glutathione Peroxidase (Ransel), Superoxide Dismutase (Ransod) and Glutathione Reductase.

To discover more about our range of antioxidant assays select an assay from the drop-down menu below. Alternatively, to gain an understanding of the role of antioxidants and the relevancy of Randox antioxidant assays please read the sections below.

Antioxidants defend our bodies from free radical damage!

As the body’s defence to free radicals, antioxidants are crucial in maintaining our health. Free radicals are highly reactive cells produced during the process of oxidation, a reaction which takes place during many of the body’s natural key processes such as respiration. Free radicals may also be produced when there is inflammation in the body, during exercise, and as a result of the body’s response to environmental factors such as sunlight and pollutants (chemicals, cigarette smoke etc.).

Antioxidants protect the body from free radical damage by inhibiting the formation of free radicals, destroying free radicals, or repairing damaged cells. The presence of antioxidants usually enables to body to handle free radicals, however if antioxidants are unavailable or if oxidative stress occurs, damage to the surrounding cells or tissue can occur. Oxidative stress refers to the imbalance between the production of free radicals and the body’s ability to detoxify them i.e. when there is an excessive production of free radicals. As a result free radicals have been implicated in many disease states.

Antioxidant benefits against disease…

Free radicals have been found to play a role in the development of many diseases including cancer (free radicals are thought to promote cell transformation into a cancer cell), arthritis and inflammatory diseases (increased oxidative stress in rheumatoid arthritis patients suggests antioxidants could have an important role), cardiovascular disease (antioxidants have been found to improve cardiac health), and Alzheimer’s disease (antioxidants have a role in removing deleterious free radicals from the brain).

How you can look after your body’s antioxidant defence…

The body’s antioxidant defence system is made up of antioxidants produced by the body naturally, in addition to requiring external sources to obtain antioxidants it cannot produce. The best source of antioxidants includes antioxidant rich foods. Foods high in antioxidants include fruits, vegetables and grains. The body’s natural antioxidant production declines with age, and therefore an antioxidant rich diet is important to ensure a healthy you!

Test your antioxidant health!

Your body’s antioxidant defence system can be tested with a simple blood test, just ask your doctor! Some of the tests to ask for include:

• Total Antioxidant Status (TAS) for a general measurement of your antioxidant levels
• Glutathione Peroxidase to test your selenium levels – low selenium levels can cause low immunity, constant fatigue and reproductive problems
• Superoxide Dismutase – superoxide is one of the most common free radicals which plays a major role in the ageing process by damaging cells in your body

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