Gastroprotective components are substances that help protect the stomach lining and promote gastrointestinal tract health. Here are some examples:

• Probiotics. Probiotics, such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, can help maintain the balance of gut flora and protect the gastric mucosa.

• 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).
• Antioxidants. Substances like vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta-carotene can reduce oxidative stress and protect stomach cells.
• Zinc. Zinc contributes to the health of the gastric mucosa and can accelerate the healing of gastric ulcers.
• Vitamin A. Essential for the maintenance and repair of mucous membranes, vitamin A can help protect the gastric mucosa.
• Flavonoids. Found in fruits, vegetables, and tea, flavonoids have anti-inflammatory properties and can help protect the stomach lining.
• Glycyrrhizin. Found in licorice, has anti-inflammatory properties and can help protect the stomach lining.
• Omega-3 Fatty Acids. Omega-3 fatty acids can reduce inflammation and aid in protecting the gastric mucosa.
• Dietary Fiber. Fiber can help regulate bowel movement and reduce the risk of gastrointestinal disorders.

The tips provided on Tiiips website are for informational purposes only and should not replace medical advice. Always consult a healthcare professional before making health-related decisions.

Components that damage the gastric mucosa, stomach, and gastrointestinal tract include substances and dietary habits that can have negative effects on the health of the digestive system. Here are some examples

• Alcohol. Alcohol can irritate and damage the stomach lining, increasing the risk of ulcers and gastritis.
• Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs). Medications like aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen can irritate the gastric mucosa and increase the risk of ulcers.
• Spicy and Acidic Foods. Very spicy or acidic foods can irritate the stomach lining in some people.
• Caffeine. Caffeine can increase gastric acid production, potentially irritating the stomach lining.
• Cigarette Smoking. Smoking can damage the stomach lining and increase the risk of ulcers and gastritis.
• High-Fat Foods. Fatty foods can slow down digestion and increase stomach acid production.
• Stress. Chronic stress can exacerbate symptoms of gastric disorders and contribute to issues like gastritis and ulcers.
• Refined Foods and Sugars. Excessive intake of refined foods and sugars can disrupt gut flora and contribute to inflammation.
• Food Additives. Some additives and preservatives can irritate the gastric mucosa.

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.

References______________________________________________________________________________________

(1) Mota KS, Dias GE, Pinto ME, Luiz-Ferreira A, Souza-Brito AR, Hiruma-Lima CA, Barbosa-Filho JM, Batista LM. Flavonoids with gastroprotective activity. Molecules. 2009 Mar 3;14(3):979-1012. doi: 10.3390/molecules14030979. 

Abstract. Peptic ulcers are a common disorder of the entire gastrointestinal tract that occurs mainly in the stomach and the proximal duodenum. This disease is multifactorial and its treatment faces great difficulties due to the limited effectiveness and severe side effects of the currently available drugs. The use of natural products for the prevention and treatment of different pathologies is continuously expanding throughout the world. This is particularly true with regards to flavonoids, which represent a highly diverse class of secondary metabolites with potentially beneficial human health effects that is widely distributed in the plant kingdom and currently consumed in large amounts in the diet. They display several pharmacological properties in the gastroprotective area, acting as anti-secretory, cytoprotective and antioxidant agents. Besides their action as gastroprotectives, flavonoids also act in healing of gastric ulcers and additionally these polyphenolic compounds can be new alternatives for suppression or modulation of peptic ulcers associated with H. pylori. In this review, we have summarized the literature on ninety-five flavonoids with varying degrees of antiulcerogenic activity, confirming that flavonoids have a therapeutic potential for the more effective treatment of peptic ulcers.

(2) Martins JLR, Silva DM, Gomes EH, Fava SA, Carvalho MF, Macedo IYL, Gil ES, Ghedini PC, Rocha FF, Silva ON, Fajemiroye JO, Pinto EMH, Costa EA. Evaluation of Gastroprotective Activity of Linoleic acid on Gastric Ulcer in a Mice Model. Curr Pharm Des. 2020 Sep 8. doi: 10.2174/1381612826666200908144053.

(3) Chiu HF, Venkatakrishnan K, Golovinskaia O, Wang CK. Gastroprotective Effects of Polyphenols against Various Gastro-Intestinal Disorders: A Mini-Review with Special Focus on Clinical Evidence. Molecules. 2021 Apr 6;26(7):2090. doi: 10.3390/molecules26072090. 

Abstract. Polyphenols are classified as an organic chemical with phenolic units that display an array of biological functions. However, polyphenols have very low bioavailability and stability, which make polyphenols a less bioactive compound. Many researchers have indicated that several factors might affect the efficiency and the metabolism (biotransformation) of various polyphenols, which include the gut microbiota, structure, and physical properties as well as its interactions with other dietary nutrients (macromolecules). Hence, this mini-review covers the two-way interaction between polyphenols and gut microbiota (interplay) and how polyphenols are metabolized (biotransformation) to produce various polyphenolic metabolites. Moreover, the protective effects of numerous polyphenols and their metabolites against various gastrointestinal disorders/diseases including gastritis, gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) like ulcerative colitis (UC), Crohn's disease (CD), and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) like celiac disease (CED) are discussed. For this review, the authors chose only a few popular polyphenols (green tea polyphenol, curcumin, resveratrol, quercetin), and a discussion of their proposed mechanism underpinning the gastroprotection was elaborated with a special focus on clinical evidence. Overall, this contribution would help the general population and science community to identify a potent polyphenol with strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, prebiotic, and immunomodulatory properties to combat various gut-related diseases or disorders (complementary therapy) along with modified lifestyle pattern and standard gastroprotective drugs. However, the data from clinical trials are much limited and hence many large-scale clinical trials should be performed (with different form/metabolites and dose) to confirm the gastroprotective activity of the above-mentioned polyphenols and their metabolites before recommendation.