Oxidative stress is an imbalance between the production of free radicals and the ability of the body to counteract or detoxify their harmful effects at a cellular level. ASEA commissioned Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) to determine if exposure to ASEA Redox Supplement activated the cell nucleus to call for increased production of antioxidants, such as glutathione peroxidase (GPx).
Study Protocol
Researchers exposed human endothelial cells to either ASEA Redox Supplement or an inert phosphate buffer solution (PBS). Standard western blot analysis was used to determine if exposure to ASEA Redox Supplement activated cell nuclei to increase production of antioxidants such as GPx, an essential enzyme in cellular antioxidant defense systems. The concentration of messengers in the nucleus that activates increase of antioxidants was also measured in human endothelial cells and compared to cells not exposed to the redox supplement. The movement of the agents into the nucleus can be seen with certain dyes under a microscope and offers a way to see the call for an increase of antioxidants. Since the production of antioxidants can also increase by exposure of the cells to low levels of inflammatory toxins, tests were performed to ensure that ASEA Redox Supplement was not provoking the cells to undergo this low-level inflammatory or toxic response.
Results Summary
Verification by the western blot analysis showed clear responses in the increase of antioxidants upon exposure to the redox supplement in comparison to the saline control. This effect was temporary, lasting only about 120 minutes but was clearly visible. Researchers indicate that the most impressive result of this evaluation is that exposure to ASEA Redox Supplement at any concentration did not invoke an inflammatory response but did invoke an antioxidant increase. Stimulating the production of antioxidants without stimulation of low-level inflammation is very rare