Effects of antioxidant nutrients on ionizing radiation-induced oxidative stress

Abstract The increased utilization of ionizing radiation (IR) for diagnostic and therapeutic uses and subsequent side effects on people’s health have led to developing some strategies to counteract the deleterious effects of IR. In fact, the exposure to ionizing radiation may induce a condition of oxidative stress, triggering a series of biochemical processes and molecular signaling pathways that may repair the damage, or culminate in irreversible injury and cell death. Several studies stressed the advantages of natural antioxidants in food targeting IR-induced oxidative stress. Antioxidant nutrients, like vitamins, polyphenols, and live probiotic microorganisms, have proven effective as radioprotectors by indicating that a correct diet may preserve from the harmful effects of IR. In this chapter, we provide an overview of the suitability of the antioxidant nutritional approach to managing the oxidative stress and related mechanisms induced by IR, by reporting integrated evidences from in vitro, experimental, and clinical studies.