Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 4 complete abstracts (721 words), 10 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
A series of prostaglandin-like compounds that are produced by the attack of free-radical species on unsaturated fatty acids, especially arachidonic acid, of cellular membranes. Once cleaved from the lipid membrane by the action of phospholipases they can circulate into various bodily fluids and eventually be excreted. Although these compounds resemble enzymatically synthesized prostaglandins their stereoisometric arrangement is usually different than the naturally occurring compounds.
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Isoprostane.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Arachidonic Acids; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated
- Narrower topics
- F2-Isoprostanes; Neuroprostanes
Related concepts
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 2,069 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Isoprostanes” (counts retrieved 2026-10-31). 161 of them (7.8%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is 2000-2009 with 1,033 records.
Reviews account for 223 records (10.8%) and meta-analyses for 10. Randomized controlled trials number 253 (12.2%) as a share of all records on the topic. Randomized trials make up a comparatively large share of this literature, which means many treatment questions have been tested directly.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 78 |
| 2000-2009 | 1,033 |
| 2010-2019 | 797 |
| 2020 onward | 161 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 223 | 10.8% |
| Meta-analyses | 10 | 0.5% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 253 | 12.2% |
Method: PubMed query "Isoprostanes"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-10-31.
Reading the evidence in drugs and chemicals
Studies of a chemical or drug can answer very different questions: what it is and how it behaves in cells and animals, how the body handles it, and whether it changes outcomes in people. Laboratory and animal findings often do not carry over to patients, and observational studies of exposures are confounded by who uses a substance and why. Nothing on this page is a recommendation to use, avoid, start or stop any substance or medicine; talk to a qualified clinician or pharmacist about your own situation. Check the dose, the species, the comparison group and whether a patient-relevant outcome was measured.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Isoprostanes and neuroprostanes as biomarkers of oxidative stress in neurodegenerative diseases | 2014 | Review article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 116 | cc by PMID 24868314 · DOI · PMC4020162 |
| Effects of 2 years of caloric restriction on oxidative status assessed by urinary F2-isoprostanes: The CALERIE 2 randomized clinical trial | 2018 | Randomized controlled trial Design not recorded in structured metadata | 74 | cc by PMID 29424490 · DOI · PMC5847862 |
| Platelet function and Isoprostane biology. Should isoprostanes be the newest member of the orphan-ligand family? | 2010 | Review article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 41 | cc by PMID 20370921 · DOI · PMC2854111 |
| Effects of Holder Pasteurization on 15-F2t-Isoprostane and Total Antioxidant Power in Donor Human Milk | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 0 | cc by PMID 41897373 · DOI · PMC13023567 |
Isoprostanes and neuroprostanes as biomarkers of oxidative stress in neurodegenerative diseases [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Accumulating data shows that oxidative stress plays a crucial role in neurodegenerative disorders.
- Closing excerpt
- We summarize the knowledge of these novel biomarkers of oxidative stress and the advantages of monitoring their formation to better define the involvement of oxidative stress in neurological diseases.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (171 words)
Accumulating data shows that oxidative stress plays a crucial role in neurodegenerative disorders. The literature data indicate that in vivo or postmortem cerebrospinal fluid and brain tissue levels of F2-isoprostanes (F2-IsoPs) especially F4-neuroprotanes (F4-NPs) are significantly increased in some neurodegenerative diseases: multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease, and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Central nervous system is the most metabolically active organ of the body characterized by high requirement for oxygen and relatively low antioxidative activity, what makes neurons and glia highly susceptible to destruction by reactive oxygen/nitrogen species and neurodegeneration. The discovery of F2-IsoPs and F4-NPs as markers of lipid peroxidation caused by the free radicals has opened up new areas of investigation regarding the role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of human neurodegenerative diseases. This review focuses on the relationship between F2-IsoPs and F4-NPs as biomarkers of oxidative stress and neurodegenerative diseases. We summarize the knowledge of these novel biomarkers of oxidative stress and the advantages of monitoring their formation to better define the involvement of oxidative stress in neurological diseases.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 24868314 · DOI · PMC4020162
Effects of 2 years of caloric restriction on oxidative status assessed by urinary F2-isoprostanes: The CALERIE 2 randomized clinical trial [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Calorie restriction (CR) without malnutrition slows aging in animal models.
- Closing excerpt
- We conclude that two-year CR intervention in healthy, nonobese men and women reduced whole body oxidative stress as assessed by urinary concentrations of F2-isoprostanes.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (263 words)
Calorie restriction (CR) without malnutrition slows aging in animal models. Oxidative stress reduction was proposed to mediate CR effects. CR effect on urinary F2-isoprostanes, validated oxidative stress markers, was assessed in CALERIE, a two-year randomized controlled trial. Healthy volunteers (n = 218) were randomized to prescribed 25% CR (n = 143) or ad libitum control (AL, n = 75) stratifying the randomization schedule by site, sex, and BMI. F2-isoprostanes were quantified using LC-MS/MS in morning, fasted urine specimens at baseline, at 12 and 24 months. The primary measure of oxidative status was creatinine-adjusted 2,3-dinor-iPF(2α)-III concentration, additional measured included iPF(2α)-III, iPF2a-VI, and 8,12-iso-iPF2a-VI. Intention-to-treat analyses assessed change in 2,3-dinor-iPF(2α)-III using mixed models assessing treatment, time, and treatment-by-time interaction effects, adjusted for blocking variables and baseline F2-isoprostane value. Exploratory analyses examined changes in iPF(2α)-III, iPF(2α)-VI, and 8,12-iso-iPF(2α)-VI. A factor analysis used aggregate information on F2-isoprostane values. In CR group, 2,3-dinor-iPF(2α)-III concentrations were reduced from baseline by 17% and 13% at 12 and 24 months, respectively; these changes were significantly different from AL group (p < .01). CR reduced iPF(2α)-III concentrations by 20% and 27% at 12 and 24 months, respectively (p < .05). The effects were weaker on the VI-species. CR caused statistically significant reduction in isoprostane factor at both time points, and mean (se) changes were -0.36 (0.06) and -0.31 (0.06). No significant changes in isoprostane factor were at either time point in AL group (p < .01 between-group difference). We conclude that two-year CR intervention in healthy, nonobese men and women reduced whole body oxidative stress as assessed by urinary concentrations of F2-isoprostanes.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 29424490 · DOI · PMC5847862
Platelet function and Isoprostane biology. Should isoprostanes be the newest member of the orphan-ligand family? [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- While there have been many reports investigating the biological activity and signaling mechanisms of isoprostanes, their role in biology, particularly in platelets, appears to still be underestimated.
- Closing excerpt
- This paper provides a review of the important literature of isoprostanes and provides reasoning that isoprostanes should be classified as orphan ligands until their receptor(s) is/are identified.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (81 words)
While there have been many reports investigating the biological activity and signaling mechanisms of isoprostanes, their role in biology, particularly in platelets, appears to still be underestimated. Moreover, whether these lipids have their own receptors is still debated, despite multiple reports that discrete receptors for isoprostane do exist on platelets, vascular tissues, amongst others. This paper provides a review of the important literature of isoprostanes and provides reasoning that isoprostanes should be classified as orphan ligands until their receptor(s) is/are identified.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 20370921 · DOI · PMC2854111
Effects of Holder Pasteurization on 15-F2t-Isoprostane and Total Antioxidant Power in Donor Human Milk [4]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Human milk is the optimal standard for neonatal nutrition, particularly for preterm infants.
- Closing excerpt
- Although this effect could offer protective benefits for vulnerable preterm infants, further studies are needed to clarify the clinical implications of HoP on redox status and neonatal outcomes.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (206 words)
Human milk is the optimal standard for neonatal nutrition, particularly for preterm infants. Several conditions associated with oxidative stress (OS) may be transmitted from mother to infant through milk, making the preservation of milk quality essential. When maternal milk is unavailable, donor human milk (DM) is commonly used and treated with Holder pasteurization (HoP) to ensure microbiological safety, although this process may affect bioactive components. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of HoP on OS biomarkers, specifically total antioxidant power (TAP) and 15-F2t-isoprostane, using colorimetric and ELISA methods as cost-effective alternatives to analytical gold standards. Twenty paired DM and HoP samples from the Human Milk Bank of Sant'Anna Hospital (Turin, Italy) were analyzed. No significant differences were observed in TAP levels between DM and HoP samples. In contrast, 15-F2t-isoprostane concentrations were significantly lower in DM compared to pasteurized milk (3.16 (1.59-5.27) vs. 0.76 (0.62-1.54), p-value < 0.001). This reduction remained consistent after stratification by sampling day. These findings suggest that HoP may reduce oxidative stress markers in donor milk, potentially limiting neonatal exposure to maternal oxidative imbalance. Although this effect could offer protective benefits for vulnerable preterm infants, further studies are needed to clarify the clinical implications of HoP on redox status and neonatal outcomes.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 41897373 · DOI · PMC13023567
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article Is depression associated with increased oxidative stress? A systematic review and meta-analysis [5]
- Research article Isoprostanes: markers and mediators of oxidative stress [6]
- Research article The neuroprotective actions of oestradiol and oestrogen receptors [7]
- Research article Quantification of isoprostanes as indices of oxidant stress and the risk of atherosclerosis in humans [8]
- Research article Disease Modification in Parkinson's Disease: Current Approaches, Challenges, and Future Considerations [9]
- Research article Carbon tetrachloride-induced lipid peroxidation: eicosanoid formation and their regulation by antioxidant nutrients [10]
References
- Miller E, Morel A, Saso L, Saluk J. Isoprostanes and neuroprostanes as biomarkers of oxidative stress in neurodegenerative diseases. . 2014. PMID 24868314 · DOI · PMC4020162
- Il'yasova D, Fontana L, Bhapkar M, Pieper CF, Spasojevic I, Redman LM, et al.. Effects of 2 years of caloric restriction on oxidative status assessed by urinary F2-isoprostanes: The CALERIE 2 randomized clinical trial. . 2018. PMID 29424490 · DOI · PMC5847862
- Ting HJ, Khasawneh FT. Platelet function and Isoprostane biology. Should isoprostanes be the newest member of the orphan-ligand family?. . 2010. PMID 20370921 · DOI · PMC2854111
- Bellisario V, El Sherbiny S, Squillacioti G, Spadavecchia A, Punziano E, Coscia A, et al.. Effects of Holder Pasteurization on 15-F2t-Isoprostane and Total Antioxidant Power in Donor Human Milk. . 2026. PMID 41897373 · DOI · PMC13023567
- Black CN, Bot M, Scheffer PG, Cuijpers P, Penninx BW. Is depression associated with increased oxidative stress? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2015. PMID 25462890 · DOI
- Montuschi P, Barnes PJ, Roberts LJ. Isoprostanes: markers and mediators of oxidative stress. FASEB J. 2004. PMID 15576482 · DOI
- Arevalo MA, Azcoitia I, Garcia-Segura LM. The neuroprotective actions of oestradiol and oestrogen receptors. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2015. PMID 25423896 · DOI
- Morrow JD. Quantification of isoprostanes as indices of oxidant stress and the risk of atherosclerosis in humans. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2005. PMID 15591226 · DOI
- Lang AE, Espay AJ. Disease Modification in Parkinson's Disease: Current Approaches, Challenges, and Future Considerations. Mov Disord. 2018. PMID 29644751 · DOI
- Basu S. Carbon tetrachloride-induced lipid peroxidation: eicosanoid formation and their regulation by antioxidant nutrients. Toxicology. 2003. PMID 12821287 · DOI
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-10-31; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-10-31.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.