Antioxidant Check-up
A Guide to Interpreting Your Results
CONTENTS
p.03
Introduction
p.04
The Antioxidant Defense System
p.05
The EDELTEST
p.06
The EDELSCALE
p.07 – 08 Interpreting your Test Results p.09
Scheduling your Test & Recommendations
p.10 – 11 Frequently Asked Questions p.13
References
Towards a healthier you… Monitoring the antioxidant defense system in order to reduce the risk of premature aging, cancer and cardiovascular diseases.
Disclaimer The information provided in this report is intended for educational purposes only and is not to be used as a substitute for a medical evaluation by a licensed medical practitioner. It is based on the available literature and experience of Edel Therapeutics.
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Congratulations on completing the EDELTEST. The EDELTEST allows you to measure and improve your antioxidant defense system. The antioxidant defense system plays a key role in controlling oxidative stress, reducing the risk of premature aging and the development of several diseases, including cancer and cardiovascular disorders. A personalized test measuring your own antioxidant defense system that can be repeated several times during the year will allow you to make sure your results are stable and your efforts are working to improve your health, slow down the aging process and its associated diseases. Oxidation corresponds to cellular damages and aging, while antioxidants correspond to prevention and protection. Too low or too high levels of the antioxidant defense system are not recommended, without measuring it, it is impossible to improve it.
The Antioxidant Defense System The antioxidant defense system has evolved to control oxidation. In humans, it consists of 2 complementary systems; the endogenous and the exogenous one. The endogenous system consists of cellular enzymes and circulating metabolic molecules, such as for example, the superoxide dismutase and glutathione and uric acid, respectively. The exogenous system consists of vitamins and various molecules, such as, for example, flavonoids or polyphenols from plant origins that harbor antioxidant activity. Man has lost the ability to produce vitamin C, a well known antioxidant, so vitamin C must come from the diet on a daily basis, because it is being used up every day in cellular processes. It is difficult, if not impossible, to isolate each component of the antioxidant defense system. In addiction, determining their concentration once they have been isolated does not provide relevant information about their combined biological activity. The ability to perform a single measurement on a native and unspoiled sample provides more biologically relevant information.
Humans have lost the ability to produce Vitamin C so it must come from the diet on a daily basis.
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The EDELTEST
The EDELTEST was developed in collaboration with experts in the field of antioxidants, oxidative stress, biochemistry and electrochemistry from the University of Stanford and the Federal Polytechnic School of Lausanne (EPFL), in Switzerland. The EDELTEST is based on the definition of antioxidant, namely the ability to neutralize damaging free radicals. The EDEL unit corresponds to 1 micromolar of vitamin C, a well known antioxidant. Depending on the physiological conditions, too much antioxidant activity may result in pro-oxidant activity. This is why it is crucial to measure it, so that a too low or a too high value can be revealed, prevented or corrected through simple actions recommended in the EDEL care program. The efficacy of preventive and corrective steps can be controlled with the EDELTEST.
The EDELSCALE OXIDANTS AND STRESSORS
ity
c pa
a tC n a
id iox t An
Low
Increased Risk
Normal
Comfort Zone
Small Increase
Activation
Medium Increase
Adaption
Large Increase
Increased risk of oxidative stress, cardiovascular diseases and cancers.
The above figure illustrates the EDELSCALE. Your test result will fall into one of the mentioned areas. The EDELSCALE defines the boundaries of each zone depending on your sex and your age. It has been established on a growing reference population of healthy volunteers. In men, the EDELSCALE shows the same value independantly of age, while in women, the value varies with age. Women are protected from oxidative stress by their hormones until menopause. After menopause, their values are the same as for men. The scientific basis for this difference is well documented. Under the action of hormones produced until menopause, the mitochondria (a source of endogenous free radicals) of women are producing less free radicals than their male counterpart. This protection ends around and after menopause. This is in agreement with the observation that women before menopause have a significantly reduced risk of developing cardiovascular disorders. Their risk is about the same than men after menopause and there is about an equal number of men and women with cardiovascular disorders after the age of 60. This is a good reason for managing the antioxidant defense system around and after menopause.
The figure to the right illustrates the Edelprofile
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The Results
Interpreting your EDELTEST Results Increased Risk of Deficiency A result in this area corresponds to an increased risk of deficiency of the antioxidant defense system. This results in a fragile state, where the antioxidant defense system is unable to control oxidative stress. It is important to take steps towards improving your score and to verify their efficacy by repeating the measurement within 1 to 4 weeks maximum. The lower the value, the shorter the period to the next measurement. In case of a value below 50 EDEL, further investigations are recommended to identify the causes of this result. Comfort Zone A result in this area corresponds to the value of the antioxidant defense system that is most frequently observed in a referenced sample population of healthy volunteers. This balanced situation reduces the risks of oxidative stress and reduces the risk of developing disorders that are associated with either too low or too high values. It is important to maintain this score and to make sure it is a stable situation. Unless there would be other reasons to repeat the test within a period shorter than 3 months, 1 test within a 3 month time frame is recommended. This will allow to identify any unexpected decrease or increase of the antioxidant defense system, and to take steps to manage it accordingly.
The Results
Interpreting your EDELTEST Results Small Increase A result in this area corresponds to the activation of the antioxidant defense system. The activation of your antioxidant defense system is normal and corresponds to a situation where the system is responding to a new situation responsible for its activation. It is important to make sure the cause of this increase can be controlled, so that the increase will not result into either an acute and intense reaction, nor a chronic one. The test should be repeated within a period of 2 months maximum. The higher the value, the shorter the period to the second measurement. Depending on the result and your personal condition, the measurement can be repeated within 1 to 3 weeks, so that large variations can be anticipated, prevented and managed accordingly. Medium Increase In such a state, the antioxidant defense system will be unable to cope with new challenges, because the system is continuously activated, resulting in an increased risk of oxidative stress. It is important to take steps towards improving your score and to verify their efficacy by repeating the measurement within a 1 month time frame. The higher the value, the shorter the period to the next measurement. A result in this area corresponds to the consolidation and adaptation of the antioxidant defense system to increased oxidative stress. Large Increase A result in this area corresponds to an increased risk of oxidative stress. This results in an increased risk of disorders that are associated with the over-activation of the antioxidant defense system. It is important to note that an excess of antioxidant activity might lead to a pro-oxidant activity. The antioxidant system might reach stages that are irreversible, because cells can be destroyed by an excess of oxidative stress. It is important to take steps towards improving your score and to verify their efficacy by repeating the measurement within 1 to 4 weeks. The higher the value, the shorter the period to the next measurement. In case of a value above 350 EDEL, further investigations are recommended to identify the causes of this result.
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Scheduling your EDELTESTS Your Result
Recommended Testing Frequency
Increased Risk of Deficiency
Verify that the result is improving within 3 months, then 4 tests per year
Comfort Zone
Verify that the result stays in the comfort zone with 4 tests per year
Small Increase
Verify that the result is improving within 3 months, then 4 tests per year
Medium Increase
Verify that the result is improving within 2 months, then 6 tests or more per year
Large Increase
Verify that the result is improving within 1 month, then 8 tests or more per year
Recommendations Measuring the antioxidant defense system is the only way to make sure the system is not too low or too high over a long period of time. This also allows us to take corrective steps in due time, before the situation is out of control. The earlier and the more regularly the antioxidant defense system is checked, the better, because without measuring it regularly, it is impossible to improve and to manage it. The antioxidant defense system is a dynamic system and the best solution is to monitor one’s value 3 to 5 times over a period of one year. By regularly monitoring it, one can verify that the result remains within the comfort zone and prevent the risks associated with large decreases or increases in due time. EDEL THERAPEUTICS recommends to take the EDEL questionaire along with the EDELTEST. The EDEL questionare was prepared in order to rapidly identify the causes that are responsible for increasing or decreasing your antioxidant defense system. With this knowledge, simple steps can be followed over a long period of time and their efficacy can be monitored with the EDELTEST.
Frequently Asked Questions What are antioxidants? Antioxidants can be defined as any substances that prevent oxidation. In humans, one finds two types of antioxidants: those produced by the body, and those supplied by the diet, such as for example vitamin C. Together, they represent the antioxidant defense system. Why be concerned with antioxidants? A deficiency or an excess of antioxidants in one’s body is associated with many diseases. A control of the supply and consumption of antioxidants will support and maintain good health. What is the required daily amount of antioxidants? There are recommendations outlining our daily needs of well-known antioxidants, such as for example vitamins C and E. However, such recommendations do not take into account other antioxidants, their interaction (negative or positive), nor the need and capacity to absorb them,which varies from person to person.
How have the reference values been established? The reference value corresponds to the Gauss distribution of the most frequently observed value in a healthy population (blood donors). The comfort zone corresponds to the most frequently observed value, while the deficiency and over-activation zone correspond to the less frequently observed values. Low and high values correspond to a low and high antioxidant capacity, respectively. A similar reference value has yet to be determined on children and young adults from 5 to 20 years old. Is it possible to perform the measurement at any time of the day? Control measurements performed every 2 hours from 7 am to 7 pm have shown a variation of about 10%. It is recommended to perform the measurement prior to any food intake, and when taking multiple samples over time, to do so at the same time of the day.
How is a measurement performed? The measurement is extremely simple. The result is obtained in less than 20 seconds from a drop of blood collected at the fingertip.
What is the ideal frequency of measurements? It is very important to perform at least 2 or 3 measurements, so that the trend - increase, stable or decrease can be assessed. An average of three measurements per year is recommended, but depending on the starting value, several measurements may be necessary to verify the efficacy of any corrective measures undertaken to adjust one’s level.
Why measure the level of antioxidants? Without measurement, it is impossible to know the level of our antioxidant defense system. Too low or too high levels can lead to unfavorable conditions, depending on the intensity and the period of time of the variation, relative to a normal value.
What are the consequences of too low or too high results? Too low or too high levels are associated with an accelerated aging process and more than 200 diseases including cardio-vascular diseases, cancers and degenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, vision disorders, etc.
What is measured by the EDEL test? The EDELSCAN 100 allows the identification of a deficiency or an excess of the antioxidant capacity within the body.
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Frequently Asked Questions How to increase the level of the antioxidant defense system? In the case of a low level of antioxidants, it is possible to increase it by reducing or eliminating the factors which decrease it, for example, by reducing the level of stress. The level of antioxidants can be increased by moderate exercise and a diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables and/or if necessary with antioxidant rich supplements. How to reduce the level of the antioxidant defense system? In the case of a too high level of antioxidants, it is possible to reduce it by reducing the oxidative stress responsible for the activation of the antioxidant defense system. Examples include the reduction of tobacco and stress. An increased supply of antioxidants, such as antioxidant rich fruits and vegetables and/or antioxidant rich supplements can contribute towards reducing the result as well. What needs to be done in order to stay in the comfort zone? In the case of receiving a result that falls into the “comfort zone� category, it is important to repeat the measurement 2 or 3 times per year to make sure this balanced situation remains stable. The balance between the supply and the consumption of antioxidants must be maintained over time. What are examples of high risk factors pertaining to an antioxidant deficiency? For 25% of men (carrier of genetic variations of an antioxidant defense system enzyme) the risk of developing aggressive prostate cancer is significantly increased when the level of the antioxidant defense system is reduced. The risk of breast cancer is also increased in women in the same situation.
What are examples of high risk factors pertaining to an excess of antioxidants? The over-activation of the antioxidant defense system results in an increased or chronic exposure to oxidative stress. Exposure to oxidative stress might lead to increased production of uric acid, which plays an active role in the antioxidant defense system. This increase is associated with increased risks of hypertension, cardio-vascular diseases and inflammatory diseases, such as gout. Can the EDELSCAN be used with children? The reference value has been established on an adult population older than 20 years of age. A similar reference value has yet to be determined on children and young adults from 5 to 20 years old.
Practitioner Notes
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