Oxidative stress and antioxidants in intestinal disease

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Updated: Oct 29, 2026

Analyzing Oxidative Stress in Murine Intestinal Organoids using Reactive Oxygen Species-Sensitive Fluorogenic Probe
09:31

Analyzing Oxidative Stress in Murine Intestinal Organoids using Reactive Oxygen Species-Sensitive Fluorogenic Probe

Published on: September 17, 2021

A Thomson1, D Hemphill, K N Jeejeebhoy

  • 1St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Ont, Canada.

Digestive Diseases (Basel, Switzerland)
|June 9, 1998
PubMed

Insights

Oxidative stress from free radicals contributes to tissue injury and cancer. While antioxidants combat this, their therapeutic benefits in gastrointestinal diseases remain uncertain, requiring further trials.

Area of Science:

  • Gastroenterology
  • Biochemistry
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Free radical-induced oxidative injury is a significant factor in tissue damage.
  • Oxidative stress is implicated in inflammation, ischemia, xenobiotic action, gene mutation, and carcinogenesis.
  • Oxidative stress plays a role in the pathogenesis of various gastrointestinal diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the concept of oxidative stress and its role in gastrointestinal diseases.
  • To discuss the potential therapeutic role of antioxidants in managing these conditions.
  • To evaluate the evidence for antioxidant intervention in oxidative stress-related gastrointestinal pathologies.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of oxidative stress and antioxidant research in gastrointestinal diseases.
  • Analysis of data linking oxidative stress to intestinal ischemia, radiation enteritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and gastric/colorectal cancer.
  • Evaluation of interventional studies involving antioxidants.

Main Results:

  • Strong evidence supports the role of oxidative stress in ischemic, inflammatory, and radiation-induced gastrointestinal diseases.
  • Interventional studies with antioxidants have demonstrated limited beneficial effects.
  • The precise role of antioxidants in therapy for these conditions is not definitively established.

Conclusions:

  • Oxidative stress is a key factor in the pathogenesis of several gastrointestinal diseases.
  • Current evidence for antioxidant therapy in these diseases is weak and controversial.
  • Controlled clinical trials are necessary to clarify the therapeutic value of antioxidants.

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