Resumo (EN)
The objective of this article was to review the biochemical basis of the total antioxidant capacity test and its applications in biochemical, physiological, nutritional, and clinical studies. Measurement of the total antioxidant capacity is feasible to evaluate the antioxidant content of foods and the nutritional antioxidant status. Acute non-regular physical exercise and body exposition to high altitudes have been associated to a considerable decrease on blood TAC levels. The TAC is reduced in many pathophysiological conditions and diseases such as atherosclerosis, acute myocardial infarction, tobacco exposure, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, obesity, and metabolic X syndrome. The test is also an important tool in exercise physiology studies as well on the evaluation of many diferent chronic and metabolic diseases.