Free radicals implicated in development of over 100 infectious diseases

Infectious disease is caused by a variety of organisms including microbes, viruses, bacteria, and parasites. They can be contagious and spread through physical contact, contaminated food, body fluids, and airborne species. Recent studies suggest that free radicals (highly reactive species) have been implicated in the development of over 100 diseases affecting all major organs. Many types of cancer are thought to be a result of reaction between free radicals and DNA and free radicals contained in cigarette smoke contribute to lung diseases such as emphysema. Antioxidants help defend the body against free radical attack of which there are three types:

• Preventative oxidants to prevent free radicals from forming, for example, albumin, ferritin and transferrin
• Scavenging antioxidants to remove free radicals, for example, superoxide dismutase, bilirubin, uric acid
• Repair enzymes, for example, DNA repair enzymes

Randox Tests

Randox provide a range of tests which offer clinicians a way of monitoring the severity of various infectious diseases. The individual components of the antioxidant system and the overall antioxidant status are assessed. The test kits can help determine patients at risk from certain diseases, poor nutritional status, the most beneficial antioxidant therapy and in research to determine the role of free radicals in disease.