@article{3148513,
    title = "Antioxidant Properties of Probiotics and Their Protective Effects in the
Pathogenesis of Radiation-Induced Enteritis and Colitis",
    author = "Spyropoulos, Basileios G. and Misiakos, Evangelos P. and Fotiadis, and Constantine and Stoidis, Christos N.",
    journal = "Digestive Diseases and Sciences",
    year = "2011",
    volume = "56",
    number = "2",
    pages = "285-294",
    publisher = "Springer-Verlag",
    issn = "0163-2116, 1573-2568",
    doi = "10.1007/s10620-010-1307-1",
    keywords = "Radiation enteritis; Radiation colitis; Oxidative stress; Probiotics;
Prebiotics",
    abstract = "Radiation therapy has become one of the most important treatment
modalities for human malignancy, but certain immediate and delayed
side-effects on the normal surrounding tissues limit the amount of
effective radiation that can be administered. After exposure of the
abdominal region to ionizing radiation, nearly all patients experience
transient symptoms of irradiation of the bowel. Acute-phase symptoms may
persist for a short time, yet long-term complications can represent
significant clinical conditions with high morbidity. Data from both
experimental studies and clinical trials suggest the potential benefit
for probiotics in radiation-induced enteritis and colitis. On the other
hand, it is well evidenced that both useful and harmful effects of
therapeutic applications of ionizing radiation upon living systems are
ascribed to free-radical production. Therefore, the hypothesis that
probiotics reinforce antioxidant defense systems of normal mucosal cells
exposed to ionizing radiation may explain to an extent their beneficial
action. The aim of this review is threefold: First, to make a short
brief into the natural history of radiation injury to the intestinal
tract. Second, to describe the primary interaction of ionizing radiation
at the cellular level and demonstrate the participation of free radicals
in the mechanisms of injury and, third, to try a more profound
investigation into the antioxidant abilities of probiotics and
prebiotics based on the available experimental and clinical data."
}