When the antioxidants run low

Step 2: Antioxidants get used up

In Part 1 we started in the mitochondria, where struggling energy production can leak extra free radicals.

Your body has a cleanup crew for those: antioxidants. Think of them as a supply that gets spent every time a free radical is neutralized. When the free radicals keep coming, the supply can start to run low.

That's step 2: antioxidants get used up.

In your labs

Two labs that offer a clue:

Uric acid. It's often thought of only as a gout marker, but it's also one of the body's main antioxidants in the blood. Some practitioners also use it as a rough hint about the balance between NAD and NADH, which your mitochondria rely on. Very low or very high values both deserve a closer look.
Vitamin C. It's a water-soluble antioxidant that helps recycle other antioxidants.

No single number tells the whole story. What matters is the pattern across several markers, which is why the lab tool puts them side by side.

Read about vitamin C →See where your labs land →

Next, in Part 3: What happens when free radicals reach the fats that make up your cell membranes.

Educational information only — not medical advice. Lab testing and any supplementation decisions should be made with a qualified healthcare provider who knows your personal health history. Research findings vary by population, dose, form, and study quality.

Some links go to Fullscript, where I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend supplements I've either used myself or seen work in my clients' lab data. Results vary from person to person.