The plasma total antioxidant capacity measurement is used to assess the state of the body's antioxidant defense systems and the risk of developing diseases due to oxidative stress.
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Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) are produced from normal aerobic metabolism. Several antioxidant systems usually remove or convert these free radicals to other products in vivo. Antioxidants are traditionally chemically stable atoms and molecules that have one (or rarely more) free electrons in their outer electron layer. An antioxidant is a molecule capable of slowing down or inhibiting the oxidation of other molecules. Antioxidants protect cells from damage caused by the reactive oxygen species produced during oxidation reactions within the cell. Almost all biomolecules, but mainly biomembranes, proteins, and nucleic acids, can be affected by free reactive species. Free radicals are responsible for many pathological conditions, or they can be produced due to the pathological condition and may cause significant damage to biological systems and cells.
The link between free radicals and some severe diseases, including Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease, atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, and chronic fatigue syndrome, is now well established. However, short-term oxidative stress, the imbalance between forming and removing reactive oxygen species, can significantly prevent aging by activating a process known as hormesis. On average, 65-70% of the population is excessively affected by oxidative stress caused by reactive oxygen species.
The protective antioxidant system of organisms is based on the action of specific enzymes, in particular peroxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase, glutathione reductase, and non-enzymatic compounds with antioxidant activity, such as tocopherol, L-ascorbic acid (vitamin C), glutathione, coenzyme Q10, flavonoids, albumin, and other molecules. Excessive production of reactive oxygen species can lead to inflammation, premature aging, and various pathological conditions, including cancer, diabetes, and atherosclerosis. Organisms have developed complex antioxidant systems to protect against oxidative stress. However, excess ROS can overwhelm systems and cause severe oxidative damage.
The plasma's total antioxidant capacity (TAC) measurement assesses the functional state of all the body's antioxidant systems, i.e., the total number of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant compounds.
