The Gastrointestinal Fate and Health Effects of Dietary Antioxidants.

Most, if not all, chronic gastrointestinal (GI) and systemic diseases are somehow associated with unbalanced redox homeostasis. Besides a well-orchestrated intracellular redox system, dietary antioxidants (e.g., vitamins, minerals, peptides, phenolic compounds) play a major role in reducing the odds for oxidative stress, by exerting direct (e.g., radical scavenging) and indirect (e.g., epigenetic action) mechanisms. However, the desirable dose-dependent effect of any dietary antioxidant is partially affected by its gastrointestinal fate. Along the GI tract, dietary antioxidants are continuously biotransformed by the concerted action of the host's and gut microbiota's biochemical machinery, a fact that will modify the overall antioxidant/epigenetic effect of parenteral antioxidants; fortunately, such biotransformation may also result in a stronger bioactivity. It is noteworthy that much of the accumulated knowledge on this matter comes from well-executed comprehensive research platforms that combine sophisticated analytical methods, and, more recently, artificial intelligence strategies.

This Research Topic covers not only the benefits of dietary antioxidants on GI / systemic health but also their molecular tracking (biotransformation) along the GI tract. High-quality scientific articles using artificial intelligence and metabolomic-based approaches, unveiling the interaction of antioxidants (parent & metabolites) with either specific gastrointestinal macromolecules (e.g. enzymes, epithelial transporters, mucin) and / or with the gut microbiota, are particularly welcome”.

We would also like to acknowledge that Dr. Dominguez-Avila (Centro de Investigación en Alimentacion y Desarrollo, A.C. Sonora, México) acted as a Topic Coordinator and has contributed to the preparation of the proposal of this Research Topic.