Oxidative Stress in Intestinal Metaplasia and Metabolic Syndrome

Intestinal metaplasia is generally considered a precancerous lesion. Although it is associated with a very small increase of gastric cancer risk, European Endoscopic Society and other European academic companies highlighted the increased risk of cancer in patients with gastric atrophy and IM and the need for staging in cases with high-grade dysplasia. The production of ROS in the gastrointestinal tract (GI) and their role in the pathophysiology and pathogenesis of gastrointestinal diseases have not been studied sufficiently. In the plasma of patients, in the context of the sequence gastro oesophageal reflux-oesophagitis-metaplasia-dysplasia-adenocarcinoma, have been found simultaneous formation of DNA adducts and increased myeloperoxidase concentration, which are associated with oxidative stress, decreased antioxidant capacity (decreased glutathione concentration).These findings support the role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis and malignant transformation. Metabolic Syndrome (MS) has been recognized as a pro-inflammatory, pro-coagulant state associated with increased levels of C reactive protein (CRP), interleukin (IL) 6 and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) 1. It has been reported that the inflammatory and the pro thrombotic markers, which are associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease and DM2, represent only a part of the relationship between IM and cardiovascular mortality. Several factors influence the pathogenesis of MS, as the pro-oxidant condition of such patients may increase the risk for developing symptoms and related chronic diseases such as DM2. Although the exact contribution of oxidative stress on every pathologic condition included in MS is difficult to determine definitively, it is certain that oxidative stress is particularly high in the MS. Regarding the relationship between MS and GI diseases, studies have reported that patients with MS are almost twice at risk for developing Barrett's esophagus.The relationship betw