Silver and other metals in the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases

Disturbance in the functioning of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract can critically affect the health and even the life of the whole organism. Several factors, both exo- and endogenous may contribute to the dysregulation of homeostasis in the digestive system, including genetic background, ingestion of highly processed food, exposition to environmental pollution or chronic stress, and changes in gut microflora, to name just a few. An important number of these factors rely on metals, which often play a dual, stimulatory and inhibitory role in crucial physiological processes. In this paper, we focus on the structures incorporating silver, copper and other metals as future drugs against GI diseases. We critically review available literature for their effectiveness and potential application, and discuss clinical relevance of these findings.