Vivoo Oxidative Stress Box

What is Oxidative Stress?

Free Radicals

Free radicals are highly reactive molecules that are naturally produced in the body as a byproduct of metabolism or by exposure to environmental toxins such as ultraviolet light and tobacco smoke [2]. Excess amounts of free radicals in the body can damage the membranes of cells through a process known as oxidative damage. As MDA is the end product of lipid peroxidation (i.e., the process where free radicals attack fat molecules in the body), urinary MDA levels can be used to determine your current oxidative stress levels.

Malondialdehyde

Malondialdehyde (MDA) is a lipid peroxidation biomarker generated during the oxidative degeneration of fat molecules [1]. In other words: an increase in free radical activity is often associated with the overproduction of MDA. 

The biomarker (i.e., MDA) can be detected in most biological samples – including urine. The compound’s easy detection explains why it’s now one of the most reported analytes for evaluating the effects of oxidative stress on lipids.

How Can You Test Oxidative Stress Levels at Home with Vivoo?

Are you interested in checking your free radical levels? You can do it with Vivoo! The Vivoo App lets you check your oxidative stress level at home by providing a clear reading. You can use our at-home urine test strip to get real-time data on other parameters like magnesium, calcium, ketones, and hydration levels. Check your overall wellness in the comfort of your home!

Vivoo also has unique features that allow you to stay on top of your wellness. Some of its features include a wellness score and detailed feedback on each parameter along with valuable and personalized advice on your diet.

How to Evaluate Possible Results?

Free radicals can cause damage to the body. More specifically, when the balance between free radicals and antioxidants present is disrupted, the former can cause oxidative damage to cells in the body. This is a phenomenon known as “oxidative stress”.

Thankfully, Vivoo helps you keep an eye on your urinary MDA levels, and provides you with a way to adopt the necessary nutritional and lifestyle changes needed to achieve oxidative equilibrium (i.e., wellness).

  • Score:10/10
  • Label: Great
  • Value: Negative

Optimal oxidative stress level: if Vivoo measures a negative urine MDA value, it means that your body is maintaining the necessary balance between free radicals and antioxidants. 

  • Score:5/10
  • Label: High
  • Value: Positive

Too many free radicals in comparison to antioxidants: if Vivoo measures a positive urine MDA value, it means that your body contains too many free radicals compared to antioxidants, and is thus subjected to oxidative stress. 

How to Control Oxidative Stress?

The body needs both free radicals and antioxidants. It is important to maintain the balance between them. The key to doing so lies in preventing the formation of free radicals in the first place, which means you need to find ways to reduce your exposure to various oxidative stressors [6]. Below are some ways you can help lower your oxidative stress:

  • Eating a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables

  • Limiting consumption of processed foods, especially foods high in sugar and fat

  • Regular exercise

  • Meditation

  • Quitting smoking

  • Reducing stress

  • Preventing or reducing exposure to pollution and chemicals

  • Maintaining a healthy body weight

Urinary MDA levels are indicative of your oxidative stress levels. Given this, it is best to strive for minimal amounts of the compound in your urine. Changing your lifestyle habits is key to preventing these conditions. Quitting unhealthy and harmful practices is helpful as they’re known to be a significant cause of oxidative stress. Also, consider adopting other healthy habits, like heading out for a walk a few times a week, as these habits can help lower your stress levels and in turn, reduce oxidative stress in the body.

Which Factors Increase Your Level of Oxidative Stress?

Free radicals form during the body's metabolism of regular substances. The presence of these free radicals leads to a state known as oxidative stress, named as such because the chemical reactions generating free radicals take place in the presence of oxygen, causing stress. Factors that may increase an individual’s level of oxidative stress include [2]:

  • Lifestyle

  • Diet

  • Environmental conditions such as pollution and radiation

  • Alcohol consumption

  • Tobacco products

  • Some medications

  • Exposure to hazardous chemicals and pesticides

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Written by Melda Tunçbiz, reviewed by Nutrition Specialist Esra Kozan on June 14, 2023, approved by Murat Koç, Head of Wellness on March 11, 2024

Table of Contents

What is Oxidative Stress?

How Can You Test Oxidative Stress Levels at Home with Vivoo?

How to Evaluate Possible Results?

How to Control Oxidative Stress?

Which Factors Increase Your Level of Oxidative Stress?

Frequently Asked Question

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FAQs

What is the role of oxidative stress in the body?

Oxidative stress is a natural process in the body that can have both positive and negative effects (9). When kept in balance, it can strengthen the body's defense mechanisms. However, excessive oxidative stress can damage cells and lead to various health issues. Positive Effects Antioxidant Defense: To counteract the harm caused by oxidative stress, our bodies have a defense system called antioxidants. These are little protectors that help balance things out. Signaling Molecules: Oxidative stress isn't all bad. It also acts as a signal in our cells for processes like growth, differentiation, and cell death. Immune Response: Our immune cells use oxidative stress as a weapon to fight off invaders like bacteria and viruses. It's their secret weapon! Exercise and Adaptation: When we exercise, our bodies create a bit of oxidative stress. This stress can actually be a good thing because it helps our muscles adapt and get stronger. It's like a workout for our cells. Negative Effects:(19) - Cellular Damage: When there's too much oxidative stress, it can harm our cells by damaging important components like DNA, proteins, and fats. This can lead to problems like mutations and dysfunctional proteins. - Aging: Oxidative stress is linked to the aging process and can speed up the aging of our cells and tissues. - Health Problems: In the long term, high levels of oxidative stress can increase the risk of health issues such as Alzheimer's, cardiovascular disease, and inflammatory conditions.

What happens when oxidative stress is high?

Oxidative stress may physiologically manifest in the form of various symptoms, such as: Fatigue Muscle or joint pain Wrinkles and gray hair Headaches and sensitivity to noise [3]

Which foods play a role in managing oxidative stress?

Antioxidants play a crucial role in the human body. More specifically, antioxidants protect your body from free radicals, which are known to both contribute to and exacerbate oxidative stress. In light of this, antioxidants may assist with cell protection. Antioxidants found naturally in foods include vitamins C, E, flavonoids, and carotenoids [7, 8]. It’s worth noting that plant-based foods are particularly rich in phytonutrients, which are often also antioxidants (e.g., flavonoids, flavones, catechins, polyphenols, and phytoestrogens). Fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, whole grains, and spices are also good sources of natural antioxidants [8]. Other antioxidant-rich food sources include cocoa, tea, and coffee.

References

  1. Singh, M., Patra, S., & Singh, R. K. (2021). 15 - common techniques and methods for screening of natural products for developing of anticancer drugs. In A. K. Srivastava, V. K. Kannaujiya, R. K. Singh & D. Singh (Eds.), Evolutionary diversity as a source for anticancer molecules (pp. 323-353) Academic Press. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-821710-8.00015-1  
  2. Phaniendra, A., Jestadi, D. B., & Periyasamy, L. (2015). Free radicals: properties, sources, targets, and their implication in various diseases. Indian journal of clinical biochemistry: IJCB, 30(1), 11–26. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12291-014-0446-0
  3. Savasky, B. M., Mascotti, D. P., Patel, N., & Rodriguez-Collazo, E. (2018). Nutritional and Pharmacological Effects on Oxidative Stress in Soft Tissue and Bone Remodeling. Journal of nutrition and metabolism, 2018, 4183407. https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/4183407
  4. Harsh Thakkar, Rameswari Eerla, Shriya Gangakhedkar, Ravi P. Shah, Exploring unexplored biomarkers of oxidative distress and their use, Advances in Redox Research, Volume 3,2021,100020, ISSN 2667-1379 ,https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arres.2021.100020.
  5. Liguori, I., Russo, G., Curcio, F., Bulli, G., Aran, L., Della-Morte, D., Gargiulo, G., Testa, G., Cacciatore, F., Bonaduce, D., & Abete, P. (2018). Oxidative stress, aging, and diseases. Clinical interventions in aging, 13, 757–772. https://doi.org/10.2147/CIA.S158513
  6. Poljsak B. (2011). Strategies for reducing or preventing the generation of oxidative stress. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity, 2011, 194586. https://doi.org/10.1155/2011/194586
  7. Tan, B. L., Norhaizan, M. E., Liew, W. P., & Sulaiman Rahman, H. (2018). Antioxidant and Oxidative Stress: A Mutual Interplay in Age-Related Diseases. Frontiers in pharmacology, 9, 1162. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2018.01162
  8. Wilson, D. W., Nash, P., Buttar, H. S., Griffiths, K., Singh, R., De Meester, F., Horiuchi, R., & Takahashi, T. (2017). The Role of Food Antioxidants, Benefits of Functional Foods, and Influence of Feeding Habits on the Health of the Older Person: An Overview. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland), 6(4), 81. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox6040081
  9. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8944834/
  10. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5551541/