Vitamin E: a potential therapy for gastric mucosal injury

Abstract

Context: Many scientific reports have shown the involvement of oxidative stress and inflammation as well as diminished gastroprotective substances in the pathogenesis of gastric lesions using various models. Therefore, treatment with antioxidants like tocopherol and tocotrienol may afford beneficial effects in attentuating the formation of the gastric lesions.

Objective: The aim of this work was to summarize documented reports on the effects of vitamin E on various models of gastric lesion.

Methods: A literature search was performed from databases in Medline (PubMed), Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and Googlescholar from June to December 2013.

Results and conclusion: The potential roles of tocopherol and tocotrienol in modifying the effects of ulcerogenic agents are discussed in this review. The protective effects of the vitamin E might involve ameliorating oxidative stress and inflammation as well as restoration of endogenous gastroprotective substances. This vitamin has the potential to be used as a therapy for gastric mucosal injury.

Keywords: Gastric lesion; inflammation; oxidative stress; stress hormones; tocopherol; tocotrienol.