The gastrointestinal mucosa can be subject to disorders and lesions
- burning
- dyspepsia
- gastroesophageal reflux
- gastritis
- ulcer
- etc
for a variety of causes:
- intake of anti-inflammatory drugs/non-steroidal pain relievers
- stress
- improper diet and lifestyle
- etc
and it is therefore necessary to put in place different mechanisms of action in a protective effect. In response to various harmful stimuli, glucocorticoid hormones come into defense.
Flavonoids represent a very diverse class of secondary metabolites with potentially beneficial effects on human health. These compounds protect the gastrointestinal mucosa from injury produced by various experimental models of ulceration and against various necrotic agents (1).
An unsaturated acid such as linoleic acid, an omega-6, has been shown to protect the gastric mucosa (2).
Polyphenols (e.g., curcumin, resveratrol, quercetin, green tea) and their metabolites may provide help as a protective effect, but stress, alcohol, and foods that may be incompatible with a proper lifestyle should be avoided (3).
