Oxidative Stress testing

Indicators of oxidative stress have been detected in muscles and blood from CFS patients. The cognitive symptoms observed in patients, could be triggered by the alteration of the blood-brain barrier's permeability. This alteration is due to oxidative damage to cellular membranes. Increased oxidative stress in CFS patients may have several origins as chronic inflammation, excess nitric oxide production or exposure to environmental toxins.

REACTIVE OXYGEN SPECIES AND OXIDATIVE STRESS
Oxidative stress results from the damaging action of reactive oxygen species. These molecules react with proteins, lipids or DNA, altering their structure and causing oxidative damage to the cells.
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are produced during normal physiological processes such as energy production, which inevitably leads to the generation of oxidative molecules: superoxide (O2._), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) or hydroxyl radical (.OH). Transition metals like Fe or Cu, although required for certain enzymatic functions, exacerbate oxidative damage by catalyzing the conversion of hydrogen peroxide into OH, a highly reactive radical that will immediately react with any biological molecule, notably poly-unsaturated fatty acids.
Another important free radical is nitric oxide (NO). This molecule, produced by the iNOS and eNOS enzymes, exerts various physiologic functions as a neuromediator, regulator of immune functions, or vasodilator. However, it can react with superoxide to form peroxynitrite (ONOO), an extremely potent cellular oxidant.

Oxidative stress is implicated in a large number of diseases:

• cancer(oxidative damage to DNA causes mutations that can lead to carcinogenesis),
• atherosclerosis(atherosclerotic plaques are made from oxidized fat),
• neuro-degenerative diseases(oxidative damage is a central component of nerve cell destruction).