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Learning essentials

Redox and antioxidant pathways

A guide to glutathione, catalase and superoxide dismutase.

Updated September 17, 2026 · Educational reference

The basic idea

Cells generate reactive molecules during normal metabolism. Enzyme systems and other molecules help manage them; redox describes related oxidation and reduction chemistry.

Three names you will see

Glutathione participates in redox reactions. Superoxide dismutase converts superoxide to hydrogen peroxide, and catalase helps break down hydrogen peroxide.

What the pathway cannot tell you

A pathway diagram or a SNP result does not prove that an antioxidant supplement will reach the right tissue or improve a symptom. Discuss the actual evidence behind a proposed intervention.

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Sources & perspective

This is an editorial adaptation of the Purser Wellness Method manuscript, practitioner course and testing education materials. Purser teaching connections are labeled separately from clinical interpretation. Private cases and individual treatment protocols are not reproduced.

Use the public resources below for additional context.

MedlinePlus: understanding laboratory testsNIH: nutrient fact sheets

Now hear the conversation.

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The Hidden Molecule Driving Inflammation: Understanding the Purser Model of Homocysteine

Most people have never heard of homocysteine, yet this small molecule may hold the key to understanding inflammation, cardiovascular disease, neurological problems, and many chronic conditions. For decades, homocysteine was viewed as a toxic substance in the blood. Doctors were taught that lowering it with B-vitamins might reduce heart disease risk. But research results were inconsistent, leaving many physicians unsure whether homocysteine truly mattered. New research and clinical observations are changing that view. We introduce a new framework called the Purser Model, which explains why homo

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Understanding Your CMA with Redox Results: What Those Two Pages Actually Mean

If you’ve had our Cellular Micronutrient Assay (CMA) with Redox testing, chances are you’ve looked at those two pages of results and thought, “Okay... now what does all this actually mean?” You’re not alone. This is one of the questions I hear most often from patients. Let me walk you through exactly what each page shows, how the test works, and why these results are so powerful for creating a truly personalized plan to help you feel your best.

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