Luminal exposure of oxidants alter colonic absorptive function.

The colonic lumen is likely to contain oxidants derived from unabsorbed dietary materials including transition metals, rancid fat, drugs and bacterial metabolites. The present study looks at the effect of luminal exposure of different oxidants on colonic mucosal lipid peroxidation and absorptive function. All the oxidants tested induced fluid and electrolyte secretion and indomethacin, a prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor reversed this effect. Oxidants did not induce mucosal lipid peroxidation. This study suggests that oxidants induce functional alterations in colon possibly through stimulation of prostaglandin generation without influencing mucosal lipid peroxidation.