Antiox test
From DoctorMyhill
Contents |
Have I got a problem with poor antioxidant status?
All the above antioxidants can be measured and almost routinely now I measure frontline antioxidants, namely Co-enzyme Q10, superoxide dismutase(SODase) and glutathione peroxidase.
Co-enzyme Q10
- This is the most important antioxidant inside mitochondria and also a vital molecule in oxidative phosphorylation. Co-Q10 deficiency may also cause oxidative phosphorylation to go slow, but interestingly not invariably. My experience is that levels are almost always down and that they can be corrected by taking Co-enzyme Q10 300mg daily for three months, after which continue with a maintenance dose of 100mg.
Superoxide dismutase (SODase)
- is the most important super oxide scavenger in muscles. Deficiency can explain muscle pain and easy fatigability in some patients. SODase is dependent on copper, manganese and zinc and I would expect this to be maintained in people taking my physiological mix of minerals (MMMs). However, when there is a deficiency, these minerals are taken separately. Experience shows that the bet results are achieved by copper 1 mg in the morning, manganese 3 mg midday and zinc 30 mg at night. Low dose SODase may also be caused by gene blockages and these are also looked at when the SODase test is done. Blockages are most often caused by toxic stress, such as heavy metals and pesticides.
Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px)
- is made up of glutathione, combined with selenium. There is a particular demand in the body for glutathione. Not only is it required for GSH-Px, which is an important frontline antioxidant, but it is also required for the process of detoxification. Glutathione conjugation is a major route for excreting xenobiotics. This means that if there are demands in one department, then there may be depletions in another, so if there is excessive free radical stress, glutathione will be used up and therefore less will be available for detoxification and vice versa. Of course, in patients with chemical poisoning or other such xenobiotic stress, there will be problems in both departments, so it is very common to find deficiencies in glutathione.
- If there is a deficiency of GSH-Px, then I recommend that patients eat a high protein diet (which contains amino acids for endogenous synthesis of glutathione), take a glutathione supplement 250mg daily, together with selenium 200mcg daily (which is present in my physiological mix of minerals MMMs).
The second and third line antioxidants are largely provided by doing a good Stone Age Diet and taking my standard recommendations for Nutritional Supplements.
