title: Oxidative stress and benefits of antioxidant agents in acute and chronic hepatitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Oxidative damage due to oxidative stress is the failure of the cell's defense against the deleterious effects of harmful agents by means of its numerous autoprotective mechanisms. oxidative stress is a key impairment induced by various conditions, including atherosclerosis, hypertension, ischemia-reperfusion, hepatitis, pancreatitis, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  Oxidative stress is a common pathogenetic mechanism contributing to the initiation and progression of hepatic damage in cases of inflammatory liver disorders, including acute and chronic hepatitis. Antioxidant administration is a good therapeutic strategy for the treatment of hepatitis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our comprehensive review of the literature revealed that contradictory results have been obtained with many antioxidants and antioxidant agents.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Since clinical studies to date have generally involved testing of the effects of antioxidant mixtures containing more than 2 antioxidants and also have been limited because of toxic effects of high doses of some antioxidants, antioxidant therapy for acute and chronic hepatitis needs further study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical Faculty, Bezmialem Vakif University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mukaddes
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Esrefoglu