Oxidative Stress Assessment in Los Angeles, CA
Every time your cells produce energy, they create reactive molecules called free radicals. Oxidative stress occurs when free radicals build up faster than your body can neutralize them, leading to cellular damage, accelerated aging, and chronic disease. At LA Integrative Gastroenterology & Nutrition, we measure your oxidative stress burden and create targeted antioxidant protocols to restore balance, support healthy aging, and protect your long-term health.
Request an AppointmentWhat Is Oxidative Stress?
Oxidative stress is an imbalance between reactive oxygen species, commonly called free radicals, and your body’s antioxidant defenses. Free radicals are a normal byproduct of metabolism, but their production increases with:
- Environmental toxins and air pollution
- Tobacco smoke and secondhand smoke
- Ultraviolet radiation from sun exposure
- Chronic inflammation and immune activation
- Intense exercise without adequate recovery
- Stress and poor sleep
- Processed foods and high sugar intake
- Chronic infections and gut dysbiosis
Normally, antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase, along with dietary antioxidants, neutralize free radicals. When oxidative stress overwhelms these defenses, cellular damage accumulates.
Oxidative Stress and Chronic Disease
Chronic oxidative stress is associated with many age-related and chronic conditions, including neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and metabolic dysfunction, cancer, autoimmune and inflammatory disorders, chronic fatigue, respiratory disease, and accelerated aging. In the digestive tract, oxidative stress contributes to inflammation in conditions such as colitis and gastritis. Measuring and addressing it is an important part of prevention.
How We Assess Oxidative Stress
Rather than guessing, we measure oxidative stress directly with specialized testing:
- Antioxidant defense markers: levels of glutathione, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and other protective compounds
- Oxidative damage markers: indicators of lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation, and DNA damage
- Inflammatory markers: to identify inflammation that fuels free radical production
- Micronutrient status: vitamins C and E, selenium, zinc, and beta-carotene
- Metabolic assessment: mitochondrial function, blood sugar control, and lipid profiles
Our Antioxidant Defense Strategy
Dietary antioxidants: Your customized nutrition plan emphasizes berries, leafy greens, cruciferous and colorful vegetables, nuts, seeds, and green tea, which provide thousands of protective phytochemicals.
Targeted supplementation: Based on your results, your doctor may recommend vitamins C and E, selenium, alpha-lipoic acid, N-acetylcysteine (NAC) to support glutathione production, polyphenols, or CoQ10 for mitochondrial support, using professional-grade nutraceutical supplements.
Lifestyle optimization: Improving sleep, managing stress, balancing exercise with recovery, and reducing toxin exposure all lower your oxidative burden.
Treating root causes: Addressing gut infections, SIBO, and chronic inflammation reduces one of the most common internal sources of oxidative stress.
Oxidative stress management is a key part of our anti-aging medicine and functional medicine programs, and it complements our genomic decoding services.
Oxidative Stress FAQs
What is oxidative stress?
Oxidative stress is an imbalance between free radicals and the antioxidants that neutralize them, which can damage cells and contribute to aging and chronic disease.
How is oxidative stress measured?
Specialized lab tests measure antioxidant levels such as glutathione, markers of cellular damage, inflammatory markers, and antioxidant nutrients.
What causes oxidative stress?
Common causes include pollution, smoking, sun exposure, chronic inflammation, poor sleep, stress, processed foods, excess sugar, and chronic infections.
Can diet reduce oxidative stress?
Yes. A diet rich in colorful fruits and vegetables, leafy greens, nuts, seeds, and green tea supplies antioxidants that help protect cells.
Which supplements help with oxidative stress?
Depending on your results, your doctor may recommend vitamins C and E, selenium, alpha-lipoic acid, NAC, polyphenols, or CoQ10. Supplements should be based on testing and medical guidance.
Is oxidative stress related to gut health?
Yes. Gut inflammation, dysbiosis, and infections increase oxidative stress, and oxidative stress can worsen intestinal inflammation.
Schedule an Oxidative Stress Evaluation in Los Angeles, CA
Find out how oxidative stress may be affecting your health. Call LA Integrative Gastroenterology & Nutrition at (310) 289-8000 to schedule a consultation.