Using Organic Acids to Determine Free Radicals, Antioxidants & Glutathione Status: A Deep Dive Using Organic Acids

Using Organic Acids to Determine Free Radicals, Antioxidants & Glutathione Status is a practical guide to understanding oxidative stress and the body’s antioxidant defenses through the lens of organic acid testing.

Dr. Gail Clayton explains how free radicals are formed, how they damage cell membranes and DNA, how mitochondria contribute to oxidative stress, and why glutathione is central to antioxidant protection, detoxification, immune balance, and energy production.

Inside, you’ll learn about:

• The major types of free radicals and why the hydroxyl radical is especially reactive
• How oxidative stress can damage polyunsaturated fatty acids and cell membranes
• The relationship between mitochondria, ATP production, and reactive oxygen species
• How antioxidant systems work together and recycle one another
• The roles of vitamin C, vitamin E, uric acid, superoxide dismutase, selenium, copper, zinc, and manganese
• How glutathione is made, oxidized, and regenerated
• The importance of NADPH in glutathione recycling and immune activity
• How inflammation and immune demand can affect antioxidant status
• Organic acid and conventional laboratory markers that may provide clues about oxidative stress and glutathione function
• The roles of pyroglutamate, GGT, 8-OHdG, alpha-hydroxybutyrate, sulfur-related markers, and amino acids
• How polyphenols and tocotrienols support antioxidant defense and membrane health
• A practical framework for deciding where to start: remove, repair, restore, and test

This guide is written for practitioners, nutrition professionals, and motivated readers who want to better understand the metabolic patterns behind oxidative stress rather than focusing on a single lab value or supplement.

The book also includes links to Dr. Clayton’s Organic Acids Course for those who want deeper training in interpretation, along with access to professional-quality supplement recommendations through Fullscript.

Learn the pathways. Recognize the patterns. Make more informed decisions.