In addition to its genetic aspects, the ageing process is intimately linked to our lifestyle and environment. Pollution, prolonged exposure to sunlight, smoking, and the intake of medications generate in our organism a condition called oxidative stress, characterised by massive formation of toxic oxygen species, among which are the notorious « free radicals ». Free radicals oxidise molecules that are indispensable to life (« we rust on the inside »), destroying our cells and thus contributing to accelerating the ageing process.
Normally, a healthy and balanced diet can supply antioxidants capable of inhibiting the toxic action of free radicals. Popular wisdom has long recognised the importance of a proper diet (and notably of eating fruits and vegetables) in promoting healthy ageing. Several scientific studies have confirmed this - it has been clearly demonstrated that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables can reduce the incidence of cardiovascular disease and cancer. On the basis of these data has emerged in the USA a new theory, called « anti-ageing theory », based on the notion that it is possible to delay ageing by taking antioxidants. This, however, is a bold idea. It implies that ageing is a reversible phenomenon, a notion that is far from proven in the current state of our knowledge.

Rather than endorsing this « anti-ageing » concept, scientists thus prefer to speak of « healthy ageing ». In the past century, progress in life hygiene, surgical techniques, and diet has enabled us to increase considerably our life expectancy. The down-side of this increase is the appearance of age-related diseases. We all know elderly people who suffer from conditions such as diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease, or memory loss. In all of these conditions, oxidative stress plays a role.

«Healthy ageing» thus requires preventive measures. Regular physical exercise is a good example. Another path to « healthy ageing » involves delaying the appearance of oxidative stress by maintaining the highest possible antioxidant capital. To achieve this, it is useful to have a tool for evaluating your Oxidative Stress Status at a chosen point in life. With scientific expertise based on 20 years of experience, PROBIOX offers to determine from a blood sample your FITNESS profile based on 9 (basic profile) to 18 (complete profile) analyses. Your family doctor can thus obtain precious information regarding the oxidative stress status of your body. According to the results obtained, he will then be able to recommend dietary changes or to prescribe antioxidant supplements at physiological dosages (beware of self-medication, because taking antioxidants in excessive amounts can have harmful effects). Later, more limited follow-up profiles will show whether your organism remains well equipped to fight oxidative stress.

IMPORTANT NOTE : To obtain interpretable results, it is necessary to perform the analyses with great care and to take maximum precautions during sample storage and processing. PROBIOX takes this imperative seriously.
For more information, feel free to contact us at +32 (0)43662431 or to send an e-mail to nfo@probiox.com.