Analysis of biomarkers from lipid peroxidation: A comparative study

Oxidative stress is associated with an increase of reactive oxygen species and is now recognized to be a prominent feature of many acute and chronic diseases, as well as of the normal aging process. Many biomarkers arc now available to assess oxidative stress. We discuss here the most commonly used in terms of specificity and sensitivity. Some data regarding their validation and measurement are also provided. In addition, we propose new biomarkers deriving from lipid peroxidation, namely 4-hydroxy-alkenals and their oxidized derivatives, which can be measured in urine. The main advantages of those markers are that 4-hydroxy-hexenal and 4-hydroxy-nonenal as well as their oxidized derivatives can be determined in one run, providing information on the global peroxidation of n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, respectively. Moreover, 4-hydroxy-hexaenoic and 4-hydroxy-nonenoic acids, measurable in urine, are non-invasive biomarkers that give an indication of the oxidative stress. In conclusion, taking into account the limitations of the different biomarkers available, more than one biomarker should be measured in a particular sample to obtain an overview on the oxidative stress.