Information GutOx
Info for health care providers
Why the GutOx Stress Test?
The GutOx Stress Test provides relevant markers for assessing gut disorders, low-grade inflammation, and the body’s detoxification capacity. This establishes a solid foundation for targeted, cause-oriented therapy.
Why these specific markers?
Rather than selecting a large number of markers with unclear significance or limited clinical evidence, only those markers are used that are thoroughly researched and demonstrate the highest clinical relevance.
Diseases associated with oxidative stress:
- Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases
- Neurological disorders
- Cancers
- Increased toxicity
- Atherosclerosis
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Autoimmune thyroiditis
- Neurodegenerative diseases
- Parkinson’s disease
Systemic effects associated with elevated LPS:
- Neurodegenerative diseases
- Metabolic syndrome
- Type 2 diabetes
- Immune dysregulation
- Autoimmune diseases
- Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
What does the GutOx test measure
This new test examines the interplay between oxidative stress and markers of gut function and dysbiosis.
Description of the analytes:
Secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) is the primary antibody of mucosal surfaces, protecting against the invasion of microorganisms and antigens. In the gut, sIgA stabilizes the microbiota and supports barrier function. Low sIgA levels indicate impaired mucosal defense, increased susceptibility to infections, inflammatory processes, and potential gut dysbiosis.
Since the microbiota influences oxidative balance, dysbiosis can promote oxidative stress; sIgA indirectly reflects the mucosa’s capacity to cope with such challenges. Changes in sIgA availability also affect the gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT), particularly dendritic cell activity and the balance between tolerance and inflammation.
Measuring sIgA as part of a gut and oxidative stress profile therefore allows early detection of functional disturbances in mucosal immunity and provides a basis for targeted therapeutic interventions.
Zonulin is a protein that regulates intestinal permeability by controlling tight junctions in the gut lining. Elevated Zonulin disrupts these junctions, leading to increased intestinal permeability (“leaky gut”). Zonulin release can be triggered by gut dysbiosis, gluten respectively gliadin, food sensitivities, and conditions such as SIBO, candida overgrowth, and parasitic infections.
Increased zonulin allows toxins, antigens, and microbes to enter the bloodstream, provoking immune activation, inflammation, and contributing to oxidative stress. Elevated zonulin levels have been reported in celiac disease, type 1 diabetes, and inflammatory bowel diseases, and are considered a potential common mechanism in autoimmune disorders.
In the GutOx stress test, Zonulin IgM, IgG, and IgA antibodies are measured, as these fluctuate less than Zonulin itself and provide a more stable reflection of intestinal permeability.
Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) are components of the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria. Their Lipid-A moiety acts as a potent endotoxin and activates the innate immune response. When LPS enter the systemic circulation (endotoxemia), they can trigger acute or chronic inflammatory responses and are associated with sepsis, metabolic dysregulation, and chronic inflammatory diseases.
Elevated circulating LPS antibody levels often indicate impaired intestinal barrier function (“leaky gut”) or gut dysbiosis and promote systemic immune activation. LPS can also disrupt the blood-brain barrier and facilitate neuroinflammatory processes.
LPS bind to receptors on immune cells, leading to NF-κB activation and increased expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6.
The LPS-mediated immune response enhances the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), causing oxidative damage to lipids, proteins, and DNA. Concurrently, LPS impair mitochondrial function, reduce ATP synthesis, and increase mitochondrial ROS production, creating a self-perpetuating cycle of mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress.
Glutathione (GSH) is the most abundant intracellular antioxidant and a key defense against oxidative stress. It is an atypical tripeptide composed of glutamate, cysteine, and glycine, with its thiol group responsible for biological activity. GSH neutralizes free radicals, detoxifies xenobiotics, supports mitochondrial redox function, and is involved in cell proliferation, apoptosis, autophagy, gene expression, and regulation of Nrf2.
Glutathione exists in a reduced (active) and oxidized (used) form and has to be recycled continuously. Total glutathione reflects overall antioxidant reserves and may be reduced due to genetic variation, nutritional insufficiency, or exposure to reactive chemicals or medications.
The values therefore provide insight into the body’s reserves for eliminating harmful substances from the system and how effectively these reserves are utilized.
The percentage of reduced glutathione indicates how efficiently existing glutathione is recycled or whether increased consumption is occurring. Reduced GSH levels are associated with:
- Anxiety disorders
- Depression
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Neurological disorders
F2–Isoprostane is an oxidized degradation product of arachidonic acid and. Urinary F2-Isoprostane is the gold-standard marker of lipid peroxidation and a reliable indicator of oxidative stress. It is pro-inflammatory and vasoconstrictive. It causes vasoconstriction in multiple organs. Elevated F2-Isoprostane levels are associated with hyperglycemia, smoking, autism, cardiovascular disease and coronary heart disease. It is concentrated in atherosclerotic plaques and correlate positively with hypertension.
High levels of f2-isoprostane may be found in atherosclerosis, attention deficit disorders, cancer, depression, generalized pain/inflammation and neurodegenerative diseases.
8-Hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) is a biomarker of oxidative DNA damage. It is formed through ROS-induced DNA oxidation, subsequently repaired, and excreted in the urine. Elevated 8-OHdG levels indicate increased oxidative stress and are considered a risk factor for degenerative diseases and certain cancers, as they may cause mutagenic G→T transversions.
Increased levels have been observed in depression, chronic fatigue, diabetes, neurodegenerative disorders, toxin exposure, medication use (e.g., antibiotics, chemotherapy), smoking, extreme physical activity, and UV exposure. In patients with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, elevated levels correlate with disease duration and cellular damage. Therefore, 8-OHdG serves as a reliable indicator of systemic oxidative burden.
How can I order the GutOx Stress Test?
Are you a practitioner? Once registered, you can order the P88 DIY for your practice or directly for a patient.
Are you a patient without a practitioner? Contact us — we’ll be happy to help!
