Measurement of total antioxidant activity as a marker of antioxidant status in vivo: procedures and limitations.

The ability to apply a simple routine assay to report on the total antioxidant activity of plasma/serum and other body fluids and their responses to dietary intervention and nutritional supplementation is an attractive useful proposition. This article will attempt to address where we are, in the author's view, in this context, setting out the pros and cons of the available methodologies en route.