DNA Oxidative Damage;Urine

Urinary 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) is an excellent biomarker of ongoing oxidative damage or stress in the body. Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) are produced as a result of normal oxygen metabolism or exposure to xenobiotics and excessive levels are associated with oxidative damage to lipids, proteins and DNA. ROS induced damage to nuclear and mitochondrial DNA occurs readily at the guanosine bases that are removed by DNA repair mechanisms and excreted in urine. 8-OHdG is the most frequently detected and studied oxidised nucleoside of DNA that is considered premutagenic. When 8-OHdG levels are elevated it is important to identify the source of stress and inflammation and consider assessing glutathione, the primary intracellular antioxidant. This test is useful for oxidative stress, metabolic syndrome, environmental exposure, inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes complications, atopic dermatitis, Alzheimer’s, hepatitis, cystic fibrosis, pancreatitis, Parkinson’s, rheumatoid arthritis, Huntington’s Disease and cancer.