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[Determination of the plasma global antioxidant capacity: a critical review]
Joël Pincemail1, Josiane Cillard2, Jean Nève3
1Service de chirurgie cardiovasculaire et Credec, Université de Liège-CHU de Liège, Belgique.
Insights
Plasma global antioxidant capacity (GAC) testing is not a reliable marker for oxidative stress. This cost-effective alternative to individual antioxidant measurements is primarily influenced by uric acid and proteins, not overall antioxidant status.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Clinical Chemistry
- Nutritional Science
Context:
- Growing interest in blood antioxidants (vitamins C, E, carotenoids, etc.) for preventing cardiovascular diseases and cancers.
- High cost of individual antioxidant level determination poses a challenge for healthcare professionals.
- Clinical laboratories offer plasma global antioxidant capacity (GAC) testing as a cost-effective alternative.
Purpose:
- To critically evaluate the utility of plasma global antioxidant capacity (GAC) testing.
- To determine if GAC can serve as a reliable in vivo marker of oxidative stress.
- To assess the appropriateness of using GAC to guide antioxidant supplementation.
Summary:
- The review highlights significant limitations in plasma GAC testing.
- GAC primarily reflects the levels of uric acid and plasma proteins, not a comprehensive antioxidant profile.
- Nine arguments demonstrate that GAC is not a valid in vivo marker for oxidative stress.
Impact:
- Plasma GAC measurement is not recommended as a substitute for individual antioxidant analysis.
- GAC results should not be used to prescribe antioxidant supplements.
- This review clarifies the scientific basis for not relying on GAC testing in clinical practice.
Abstract:
With respect to prevention of cardiovascular diseases and cancers, the healthcare professionals are more and more interested in the blood determination of antioxidants (vitamins C and E, carotenoids, glutathione, ubiquinone, antioxidant enzymes). The major problem of these analysis is their elevated cost. At the request of the healthcare professionals, the laboratories of clinical biology suggest the measurement of the plasma global antioxidant capacity (GAC) as a replacement of the individual determination of all these antioxidants. The present review shows that such a test presents a large number of gaps, the major one being that it essentially reflects the plasma concentration of uric acid and proteins. On basis of nine arguments, we show that the measurement of the plasma GAC cannot be considered as an in vivo marker of oxidative stress nor lead to the prescription antioxidant complement.
