Thiobarbituric Acid

Measurement of Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances (TBARS) is a method for determining lipid peroxidation of various substances such as food, and human and animal biological samples. Lipid peroxidation is the oxidative deterioration of lipids which causes cellular injury. In humans, oxidative stress has been associated with numerous diseases, such as Atherosclerosis, Heart Disease, and Parkinson's Disease.

The endogenous enzymatic antioxidants, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase are the first line of defense in inhibiting lipid peroxidation. Exogenous antioxidants such as vitamins A, E, C, selenium along with green tea, grape seed, and alpha lipoic acid is the second line of defense in inhibiting lipid peroxidation.

Denham Harman is widely regarded as the “father of the free radical of theory aging". In 1961, Harman published a study showing the relationship of polyunsaturation in fats and the rate cancer rates in mice. Polyunsaturated fat is prone to oxidation, thus diets high in polyunsaturated fat have higher levels of lipid peroxidation.