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01Markers · Oxidative stress

8-OHdG

8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine

A modified DNA building block formed when free radicals oxidize DNA. It is measured in urine or blood.

Measured in
Urine or blood
Units
ng/mg creatinine, ng/mL
Also called
8-oxo-dG, 8-oxodG
  1. Vitamin E
  2. Creatine
  3. Ubiquinol (CoQ10)
  4. Iron
  5. NAC
  6. Omega-3
  7. Red yeast rice
  8. Melatonin
  9. L-carnitine
  10. Magnesium
  11. Resveratrol
  12. Vitamin C
  13. Zinc
  14. Milk thistle
  15. Berberine
  16. Taurine
  17. HIIT
  18. Ashwagandha
  19. Collagen
  20. Finnish sauna
  21. L-theanine
  22. Lion's mane
  23. NAD+
  24. PQQ
  25. Vitamin D3
  26. Vitamin K2
  27. Zone 2 cardio
8-OHdG across the 27 supplements and practices researched so far · best evidence first

AWhat moves 8-OHdG

17 of 27 studied

In human studies, 15 of the 27 supplements and practices researched so far lowered 8-OHdG and 1 raised it. 1 had mixed results. 10 were never studied for it.
  • Supported 16
  • No effect 0
  • Conflicting 1
  • Not studied 10

Moves it16

Human studies found a change. The grade reflects the studies behind it, from A (strongest) to D.

Vitamin ELowersGrade B
CreatineLowersGrade B

Creatine lowers 8-OHdG.

Ubiquinol (CoQ10)LowersGrade B
IronRaisesGrade B

Iron raises 8-OHdG.

NACLowersGrade B

NAC lowers 8-OHdG.

Omega-3LowersGrade B

Omega-3 lowers 8-OHdG.

Red yeast riceLowersGrade B
MelatoninLowersGrade B

Melatonin lowers 8-OHdG.

L-carnitineLowersGrade C

L-carnitine lowers 8-OHdG.

MagnesiumLowersGrade C

Magnesium lowers 8-OHdG.

ResveratrolLowersGrade C

Resveratrol lowers 8-OHdG.

Vitamin CLowersGrade C

Vitamin C lowers 8-OHdG.

ZincLowersGrade C

Zinc lowers 8-OHdG.

Milk thistleLowersGrade C

Milk thistle lowers 8-OHdG.

BerberineLowersGrade D

Berberine lowers 8-OHdG.

TaurineLowersGrade D

Taurine lowers 8-OHdG.

Mixed results1

Studies disagree, or the direction depends on who was studied.

HIITMixed resultsGrade A

Studies of HIIT and 8-OHdG disagree.

Not studied10

No usable human study has measured 8-OHdG with these. A gap is not a negative result: nobody has looked.

AshwagandhaCollagenFinnish saunaL-theanineLion's maneNAD+PQQVitamin D3Vitamin K2Zone 2 cardio

Why trials measure it. Antioxidant trials report it as a measure of oxidative damage to DNA.

About this marker: Urinary 8-OHdG as a Biomarker for Oxidative Stress: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis (International Journal of Molecular Sciences (PubMed Central)).

Evidence states come from published human studies found in PubMed and OpenAlex and read by a model pipeline. "Not studied" means no usable human study was found for this marker, which is a gap, not a negative result. Every result links its studies so you can check it.

Research summary for education. Not medical advice.