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Instability of malondialdehyde in the presence of H2O2: Implications for the thiobarbituric acid test

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Lipids

Abstract

The content of thiobarbituric acid-reactive material (primarily malondialdehyde) is frequently used to estimate the extent of lipid peroxide formation. How-ever, malondialdehyde is unstable in the presence of millimolar concentrations of hydrogen peroxide. This observation considerably limits the applicability of the thiobarbituric acid test, as hydrogen peroxide is known to be formed in a number of lipid peroxidation-promoting systems. The instability of malondialdehyde in the presence of hydrogen peroxide seems to account for the inconsistent outcomes in studies relating the manipulations of intermediate H2O2 levels to the initiation of lipid peroxidation.

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Abbreviations

A:

absorbance

MDA:

malondialdehyde

TBA:

2-thiobarbituric acid

TEP:

1,1,3,3-tetraethoxypropane

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Smooth Muscle Research Program, Department of Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, L8N 3Z5, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

    Peter Kostka & Chiu-Yin Kwan

Authors
  1. Peter Kostka
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  2. Chiu-Yin Kwan
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Kostka, P., Kwan, CY. Instability of malondialdehyde in the presence of H2O2: Implications for the thiobarbituric acid test. Lipids 24, 545–549 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02535136

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02535136

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