Sulforaphane (SFN), which is a hydrolysis product from glucoraphanin, a compound found in cruciferous vegetables, has been studied for its potential health benefits, particularly in disease prevention and treatment. SFN has proven to be effective in combating different types of cancer by inhibiting the proliferation of tumors and triggering apoptosis. This dual action has been demonstrated to result in a reduction in tumor size and an enhancement of survival rates in animal models. SFN has also shown antidiabetic and anti-obesity effects, improving glucose tolerance and reducing fat accumulation. SFN’s ability to activate Nrf2, a transcription factor regulating oxidative stress and inflammation in cells, is a primary mechanism behind its anticancerogenic and antidiabetic effects. Its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic properties are also suggested to provide beneficial effects against neurodegenerative diseases. The potential health benefits of SFN have led to increased interest in its use as a dietary supplement or adjunct to chemotherapy, but there are insufficient data on its efficacy and optimal doses, as well as its safety. This review aims to present and discuss SFN’s potential in treating various diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, obesity, and neurodegenerative diseases, focusing on its mechanisms of action. It also summarizes studies on the pharmacological and toxicological potential of SFN in in vitro and animal models and explores its protective role against toxic compounds through in vitro and animal studies.

Background: Dietary habits influenced by lifestyle and cultural factors play a critical role in health by modulating oxidative stress and inflammation. While diets offer significant benefits, they may also pose risks, such as nutrient deficiencies, emphasizing the need for a balanced approach. Exploring Mediterranean and plant-based diet effects on oxidative stress and inflammation biomarkers may help improve health outcomes and disease prevention strategies. Methods: This study analyzed 65 studies following PRISMA guidelines to evaluate the effects of Mediterranean and plant-based diets on biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation in healthy individuals. Results: The Mediterranean diet was weakly associated with reductions in oxidative stress markers, including MDA (ROM: 0.80; 95% CI: 0.57–1.13; p = 0.2092) and 8OHdG (ROM: 0.81; 95% CI: 0.59–1.11; p = 0.1847), as well as inflammation markers such as CRP (ROM: 0.72; 95% CI: 0.42–1.23; p = 0.1545) and IL-6 (ROM: 1.23; 95% CI: 0.97–1.55; p = 0.08). The vegetarian diet significantly reduced CRP (ROM: 0.82; 95% CI: 0.69–0.98; p = 0.0297), while the vegan diet showed a borderline reduction (ROM: 0.81; 95% CI: 0.56–1.17; p = 0.2544), suggesting lower systemic inflammation compared to omnivorous diets. Conclusions: Although all three diets demonstrate potential in reducing oxidative stress and inflammation, the antioxidant effects—especially for the Mediterranean diet—are lower than anticipated, indicating alternative mechanisms. Further research is essential to confirm these findings and clarify the underlying mechanisms to enhance preventive health strategies.

Magnesium plays a crucial role in over 300 enzymatic reactions related to energy production, muscle contraction, and nerve function. Given its essential biological functions and increasing prevalence of suboptimal intake, magnesium supplementation has gained attention for its potential health benefits, particularly in mitigating oxidative stress and inflammation. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the antioxidant effects of dietary and supplemental magnesium on several biomarkers related to oxidative stress and inflammation. A systematic search of studies published from 2000 to 2025 identified 28 relevant articles, including both animal and human studies. The meta-analysis assessed the effects of magnesium supplementation on oxidative stress biomarkers such as nitric oxide (NO), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), and C-reactive protein (CRP). While results showed a statistically significant reduction in CRP levels, suggesting an anti-inflammatory effect, no conclusive impact on oxidative stress biomarkers was observed. The findings highlight magnesium’s potential role in inflammation regulation, though its direct antioxidant effects remain uncertain. Further high-quality clinical trials are needed to clarify the impact of magnesium supplementation on oxidative stress and to explore its broader health implications.

Polyphenols are a diverse and widely distributed group of plant-derived phytochemicals known for their broad spectrum of biological activities. Found abundantly in fruits, vegetables, grains, tea, coffee, and wine, these compounds are increasingly recognized for their significant contribution to human health. Their benefits are largely attributed to potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and bioactive properties, which support the prevention and management of chronic diseases. Among their many functions, polyphenols serve as powerful antioxidants, capable of neutralizing reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reducing oxidative stress a key contributor to the development of degenerative diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular conditions, and neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. This review explores the classification of polyphenols based on their chemical structures, their major dietary sources, and their bioavailability and metabolism, which influence their biological efficacy. In addition to their antioxidant potential, polyphenols exhibit a wide range of therapeutic activities, including anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, cardioprotective, and neuroprotective effects. The review also discusses current challenges in optimizing the health benefits of polyphenols, including limited bioavailability, interactions with other dietary components, and variability in individual metabolism. Finally, future research directions are proposed, emphasizing advanced delivery systems, functional food applications, and integrated clinical studies using tools such as metabolomics and nutrigenomics.

In avian species, heat stress (HS) is usually the result of being exposed to high ambient temperatures, whereas oxidative stress (OS) results from the overproduction of reactive oxygen species. The current literature suggests that HS often leads to OS. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to assess the effects of dietary supplementation of glutamine on the antioxidant status and growth performances in heat-stressed broilers. A total of 13 studies were deemed eligible after an exhaustive search of the literature from Google Scholar, PubMed, and Scopus. Briefly, the following criteria were used to select the studies: trials performed on broilers; publication in peer-review journals using English as the text language; and sufficient details about the design and inclusion of dietary glutamine as a treatment for HS. Two main categories of outcomes were extracted from the studies included in the review: growth parameters and OS markers. For the meta-analysis, a random effect model was used when the heterogeneity was higher than 50%, and a fixed effect model was applied otherwise. Pooled standardized mean differences (SMD), and mean differences (MD) with their confidence intervals (CI) from the studies revealed that dietary glutamine could increase body weight gain (SMD = 0.70, CI = 0.50 to 0.90, p < 0.05), and feed intake (FI) (SMD = 0.64, CI = 0.43 to 0.86, p < 0.05), and reduce the feed conversion ratio (MD = −0.05, CI = −0.07 to −0.02, p < 0.05) in heat-exposed birds. Additionally, higher glutamine (SMD = 1.21, CI = 1.00 to 1.43, p < 0.05), glutathione (SMD = 1.25, CI = 0.88 to 1.62, p < 0.05), superoxide dismutase (SOD) (SMD = 0.97, CI = 0.58 to 1.36, p < 0.05), and catalase (SMD = 0.94, CI = 0.72 to 1.16, p < 0.05) levels were recorded in the serum, breast, and thigh muscle after supplementation of glutamine. Furthermore, the subgroup analysis revealed that malondialdehydes levels were decreased only in the serum (SMD = −0.83, CI = −1.25 to −0.41, p < 0.001) and thigh muscle (SMD = −1.30, CI = −1.86 to −0.35, p < 0.001) while glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity was increased in the breast (SMD = 1.32, CI = 0.95 to 1.68, p < 0.05) and thigh muscle (SMD = 1.53, CI = 1.06 to 1.99, p < 0.05). Meta-regression models indicated that longer periods of heat exposure were inversely associated with the effectiveness of dietary glutamine in increasing FI, GPX, and SOD (p < 0.05). Besides, increasing the dietary concentration of glutamine led to higher GPX and SOD levels (p < 0.05). Taken together, results suggest that dietary supplementation of glutamine can effectively mitigate the deleterious effects of HS by enhancing the antioxidant status and increasing growth performances in broilers.

<h4>Background & objective</h4>Current evidence is debatable regarding the feasible effects of zinc supplementation on the inflammation and oxidative stress status of adults. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to clarify this inconclusiveness.<h4>Materials and methods</h4>Literature search was conducted via online databases such as PubMed, Scopus, ISI Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar until June 2020. The overall effect was presented as the weighted mean difference (WMD) at 95 % confidence interval (CI) in a random-effects meta-analysis model. Publication bias was also assessed using Egger's and Begg's statistics.<h4>Results</h4>In total, 25 clinical trials (n = 1428) were reviewed, which indicated that zinc supplementation significantly affects the concentration of C- reactive protein (WMD: -0.03 mg/l; 95 % CI: -0.06, 0.0; P = 0.029), interlukin-6 (WMD: -3.81 pg/mL; 95 % CI: -6.87, -0.76; P = 0.014), malondialdehyde (WMD: -0.78 μmol/l; 95 % CI: -1.14, -0.42; P < 0.001), and total antioxidant capacity (WMD: 95.96 mmol/l; 95 % CI: 22.47, 169.44; P = 0.010). In addition, a significant between-study heterogeneity and a non-significant increment was reported in nitric oxide (WMD: 1.47 μmol/l; 95 % CI: -2.45, 5.40; P = 0.461) and glutathione (WMD: 34.84 μmol/l; 95 % CI: -5.12, 74.80; P = 0.087).<h4>Conclusion</h4>According to the results, zinc supplementation may have beneficial anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects in adults.

<h4>Background</h4>Epilepsy is a prevalent chronic neurological disorder. A substantial proportion of patients develop drug-resistant epilepsy. Existing antiepileptic drugs are associated with adverse effects and demonstrate limited efficacy in refractory cases. Oxidative stress plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of epilepsy. Antioxidants such as vitamin D, vitamin E, and melatonin, as well as dietary therapies like the ketogenic diet, have garnered attention as potential adjunctive treatments. However, existing studies exhibit significant controversy and heterogeneity.<h4>Objective</h4>To evaluate the efficacy and safety of antioxidants and dietary therapies in the treatment of epilepsy, and to provide evidence-based support for clinical decision-making.<h4>Methods</h4>Systematic searches were conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and the Cochrane Library. Eighteen eligible meta-analyses were selected for umbrella review based on predefined criteria. Pooled relative risks (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using random-effects or fixed-effects models. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I² statistic, and evidence quality was evaluated with the AMSTAR 2 tool.<h4>Results</h4>Dietary therapies-particularly the Low Glycemic Index Treatment (LGIT)-significantly increased the likelihood of achieving ≥50% (RR: 1.95; 95% CI: 1.58-2.33) and ≥90% (RR: 3.33; 95% CI: 1.51-5.14) seizure reduction. However, dietary therapies were ineffective in achieving seizure freedom (RR: 0.68; 95% CI: 0.00-1.36). In subgroup analyses of ≥50% seizure reduction, antioxidants did not demonstrate significant efficacy. Both antioxidants and dietary therapies significantly increased the overall incidence of adverse events (RR: 1.56; 95% CI: 1.19-1.92). Specifically, the ketogenic diet elevated the risks of dyslipidemia (RR: 3.56; 95% CI: 2.00-5.11), weight loss (RR: 4.80; 95% CI: 3.43-6.17), constipation (RR: 3.02; 95% CI: 1.55-4.48), and kidney stones (RR: 5.24; 95% CI: 3.73-6.74). Melatonin was ineffective in reducing seizure frequency (RR: 0.30; 95% CI: 0.00-0.63). Considerable heterogeneity was observed across studies.<h4>Conclusion</h4>Dietary therapies-notably LGIT-demonstrate clear efficacy in reducing seizure frequency but do not facilitate seizure freedom. Current evidence does not support the use of antioxidants as effective adjunctive therapy for epilepsy. These interventions, particularly the ketogenic diet, are associated with increased risks of adverse effects, necessitating careful benefit-risk assessment in clinical application.<h4>Systematic review registration</h4>https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420251166437, identifier: CRD420251166437.

Skin conditions are a significant cause of fatal and nonfatal disease burdens globally, ranging from mild irritations to debilitating diseases. Oxidative stress, which is an imbalance between reactive oxygen species and the cells’ ability to repair damage, is implicated in various skin diseases. Antioxidants have been studied for their potential benefits in dermatologic health, but the evidence is limited and conflicting. Herein, we conducted a systematic review of controlled trials, meta-analyses, and Cochrane review articles to evaluate the current evidence on the utility of antioxidant supplementation for adjunct prevention and treatment of skin disease and to provide a comprehensive assessment of their role in promoting dermatologic health. The Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE, and Epistemonikos databases were queried. Eligibility criteria included (1) primary focus on nanoparticle utility for skin cancer; (2) includes measurable outcomes data with robust comparators; (3) includes a number of human subjects or cell-line types, where applicable; (4) English language; and (5) archived as full-text journal articles. A total of 55 articles met the eligibility criteria for the present review. Qualitative analysis revealed that topical and oral antioxidant supplementation has demonstrated preliminary efficacy in reducing sunburns, depigmentation, and photoaging. Dietary exogenous antioxidants (namely vitamins A, C, and E) have shown chemopreventive effects against skin cancer.

1. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects approximately 10–15% of the adult population in industrialized countries and the incidence of CKD, and its associated end stage kidney disease, are increasing each year. 2. Renal replacement therapies are already a significant cost to health systems internationally, and this is expected to increase. 3. There could be significant benefits through sensible use of bioactive nutritional supplements as either prophylactic treatment against development or progression of CKD, or as single or co-therapies, along with established conventional medicines, for CKD. 4. Although efficacy trials with antioxidants have been generally disappointing in non-CKD patients with cardiovascular disease, the increased oxidative stress in CKD may provide an environment for antioxidants to be protective. 5. It is imperative that use of dietary supplements be monitored closely in all patients, and that health care practitioners take an active role in identifying patients who are using such supplements and be able to provide appropriate patient education.

The role of diet and nutrition in cancer prevention has garnered significant attention as a key area of public health research. This review evaluates the impact of various dietary patterns and nutritional factors on cancer risk reduction. We systematically analyze evidence from epidemiological studies, clinical trials, and meta-analyses to identify dietary components and nutrients associated with lower cancer incidence. Key topics include the protective effects of high-fiber foods, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, as well as the potential risks associated with excessive consumption of processed meats and high-fat diets. The review also explores the role of specific nutrients, such as antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, and their mechanisms in modulating cancer-related pathways. By synthesizing current findings, we aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of how dietary choices can influence cancer risk, offering practical guidelines for individuals and health professionals to integrate into cancer prevention strategies.