Summary
| Direction in Gulf War Illness | ↓ Reduced — lower than in the comparison group |
|---|---|
| Category | Metabolic |
| Also described as | Redox balance |
| Compared against | HGV (healthy Gulf War veteran controls) |
| Associated symptoms | Oxidative damage |
| Test type | Blood test (serum / plasma / whole blood) |
| Source | Gean et al. 2021 — doi:10.1016/j.lfs.2021.119456 |
| Condition atlas | Gulf War Illness Biomarker Atlas |
Trials, interventions and tests
In clinical-trial registrations this marker maps to the outcome term Change from baseline the mean Glutathione (GSH)/ oxidized GSH (GSSG) ratio at 12 weeks (1 registered trials use a matching outcome measure).
Clinical trials using GSH:GSSG ratio as an outcome
- NCT05817032: Effect of Telerehabilitation Practice in Long COVID-19 Patients (Unknown)
Outcome measure: Change from baseline the mean Glutathione (GSH)/ oxidized GSH (GSSG) ratio at 12 weeks
Related Metabolic markers in Gulf War Illness
- Glutathione (GSH) ↓
- 8-isoprostane ↑
- Coenzyme Q10 ↓
- Homocysteine ↑
- Acylcarnitines ↑
- Lactate ↑
- Vitamin D (25-OH) ↕
Full list: Gulf War Illness Biomarker Atlas.
Frequently asked questions
Is GSH:GSSG ratio high or low in Gulf War Illness?
Reduced. Studies summarised in the OSMF atlas report lower GSH:GSSG ratio in Gulf War Illness than in healthy Gulf War veteran controls. Source: Gean et al. 2021.
What symptoms is GSH:GSSG ratio associated with in Gulf War Illness?
The cited literature associates this marker with Oxidative damage. These are population-level associations and do not mean the marker causes the symptoms.
Which test measures GSH:GSSG ratio?
It is measured as a blood test (serum / plasma / whole blood). Many of the cited studies used research-grade assays, so clinical availability may vary.
Is one abnormal GSH:GSSG ratio result diagnostic of Gulf War Illness?
No. No single biomarker is diagnostic of Gulf War Illness. GSH:GSSG ratio findings come from group comparisons, overlap considerably between patients and controls, and vary with study design, timing and comparison group. A result should be interpreted by a clinician alongside symptoms, history and other tests.
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Last reviewed: 2026-06-29 · Page generated from gulf-war-illness.json · Browse: Gulf War Illness atlas · Biomarker Index · All marker pages
Disclaimer: This page is an educational synthesis of published, peer-reviewed research and is not medical advice. Biomarker findings vary across studies with case definitions, comparison groups, timing and assay methods. Direction of change reflects the predominant finding in the cited source and does not establish a diagnostic threshold. Discuss any test result with a qualified clinician.