http://www.liquidhealthinc.com/node/121 Problems with ORAC testing We get
asked a lot why we don’t have ORAC testing done on our products. While ORAC
scores do provide some measurable means to compare foods and antioxidant
products, there are some /problems with ORAC testing/. I’ll do my best to
address these problems in this article and explain why ORAC isn’t the
definitive answer on a products antioxidant capability. Here is a little
background on ORAC testing, which was developed at the National Institute on
Aging. According to Natural Products Insider “the test pits an antioxidant
sample—an extract, for example—against free radicals in a test tube. The
amount of oxidative stress/damage and inhibition of this oxidation is
measured relative to a fluorescent tube, yielding a score that represents the
antioxidant capacity of the sample.” So ORAC testing scores foods,
extracts, or finished products based on the samples ability to reduce
oxidation of free radicals. One of the problems with ORAC testing is that the
results are based on tests done in a test tube and lab, not in real life.
It’s hard to translate the results from lab testing to the human
experience, especially since each body is different and will possibly react
to different antioxidants in different ways. You can’t take a standardized
result, like an ORAC score, and predict the results you’ll see from a food
or supplement product. Another of the problems with ORAC testing, which has
only recently been addressed, is that the original ORAC test was done in
water. This means that antioxidants that are water-soluble had an advantage
over their fat soluble counterparts. Even now that ORAC testing works for
both types of antioxidants, it’s hard to know if those results can be
accurately compared. Yet another of the *problems with ORAC testing* is that
it only tests for 2 of the at least 6 harmful reactive oxygen species. Sadly,
because of this there are some antioxidants that have a low ORAC score, but
still are extremely effective in fighting off free radicals. An example of
this is carotenoids, which may not rank highly on the ORAC scale, but has
proven to be effective against singlet oxygen (an ROS not tested in ORAC
testing). In addition to this, there are a number of phytochemicals (like
lycopene) that serve many beneficial functions, but due to the nature of the
ORAC test, they generally score low. One of the other problems with ORAC
testing [1] is the ability to enhance your samples’ ORAC score. This can be
done by removing water from whatever is being tested. Wayne G. Geilman,
Ph.D., a senior research scientist for Pure Fruit Technologies, has said
“Dried fruits will always score higher than the same fresh fruit—the more
water removed the higher ORAC score.” He also shares that changing the size
of the product being tested can also affect the final ORAC score. Other
things that can affect something’s ORAC score are growing conditions, soil
quality and when the sample was harvested. ORAC scores are a simplified way
for consumers to compare products and try to choose which is best for them
and their needs. The problem lies in the fact that some people choose to look
at nothing but something’s ORAC score. There are many ways to determine how
beneficial a product or food would be to you. Make sure you do your homework
when trying to choose the best ways to be healthy! [1] http://www.liquidhealthinc.com/sites/default/files/lh1_logo.jpghttp://liquidhealth.posterous.com/new-content-from-liquid-health-37923 http://www.liquidhealthinc.com/node/121 Problems with ORAC testing We get asked a lot why we don’t have ORAC testing done on our products. While ORAC scores do provide some measurable means to compare foods and antioxidant products, there are some /problems with ORAC testing/. I’ll do my best to add ... http://liquidhealth.posterous.com
asked a lot why we don’t have ORAC testing done on our products. While ORAC
scores do provide some measurable means to compare foods and antioxidant
products, there are some /problems with ORAC testing/. I’ll do my best to
address these problems in this article and explain why ORAC isn’t the
definitive answer on a products antioxidant capability. Here is a little
background on ORAC testing, which was developed at the National Institute on
Aging. According to Natural Products Insider “the test pits an antioxidant
sample—an extract, for example—against free radicals in a test tube. The
amount of oxidative stress/damage and inhibition of this oxidation is
measured relative to a fluorescent tube, yielding a score that represents the
antioxidant capacity of the sample.” So ORAC testing scores foods,
extracts, or finished products based on the samples ability to reduce
oxidation of free radicals. One of the problems with ORAC testing is that the
results are based on tests done in a test tube and lab, not in real life.
It’s hard to translate the results from lab testing to the human
experience, especially since each body is different and will possibly react
to different antioxidants in different ways. You can’t take a standardized
result, like an ORAC score, and predict the results you’ll see from a food
or supplement product. Another of the problems with ORAC testing, which has
only recently been addressed, is that the original ORAC test was done in
water. This means that antioxidants that are water-soluble had an advantage
over their fat soluble counterparts. Even now that ORAC testing works for
both types of antioxidants, it’s hard to know if those results can be
accurately compared. Yet another of the *problems with ORAC testing* is that
it only tests for 2 of the at least 6 harmful reactive oxygen species. Sadly,
because of this there are some antioxidants that have a low ORAC score, but
still are extremely effective in fighting off free radicals. An example of
this is carotenoids, which may not rank highly on the ORAC scale, but has
proven to be effective against singlet oxygen (an ROS not tested in ORAC
testing). In addition to this, there are a number of phytochemicals (like
lycopene) that serve many beneficial functions, but due to the nature of the
ORAC test, they generally score low. One of the other problems with ORAC
testing [1] is the ability to enhance your samples’ ORAC score. This can be
done by removing water from whatever is being tested. Wayne G. Geilman,
Ph.D., a senior research scientist for Pure Fruit Technologies, has said
“Dried fruits will always score higher than the same fresh fruit—the more
water removed the higher ORAC score.” He also shares that changing the size
of the product being tested can also affect the final ORAC score. Other
things that can affect something’s ORAC score are growing conditions, soil
quality and when the sample was harvested. ORAC scores are a simplified way
for consumers to compare products and try to choose which is best for them
and their needs. The problem lies in the fact that some people choose to look
at nothing but something’s ORAC score. There are many ways to determine how
beneficial a product or food would be to you. Make sure you do your homework
when trying to choose the best ways to be healthy! [1] http://www.liquidhealthinc.com/sites/default/files/lh1_logo.jpghttp://liquidhealth.posterous.com/new-content-from-liquid-health-37923 http://www.liquidhealthinc.com/node/121 Problems with ORAC testing We get asked a lot why we don’t have ORAC testing done on our products. While ORAC scores do provide some measurable means to compare foods and antioxidant products, there are some /problems with ORAC testing/. I’ll do my best to add ... http://liquidhealth.posterous.com
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