REVIEW article
Front. Mol. Biosci.
Sec. Lipids, Membranes and Membranous Organelles
Research progress on the damage of lipid peroxidation to the body and its correlation with metabolic diseases
Jiali Wang 1
Hongli Li 2
Yuhan She 2
Chongli Xu 3
Kun Peng 2
Wenqiao Ding 4
1. Laiwu Vocational and Technical College, Jinan, China
2. Chongqing Medical and Pharmaceutical College, Chongqing, China
3. College of medical technology, Chongqing Medical and Pharmaceutical College, Chongqing, China
4. Jilin Institute of Chemical Technology, Jilin City, China
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Abstract
Lipid peroxidation is a critical oxidative stress response implicated in the pathogenesis of numerous metabolic diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). While its role in damaging cellular components such as membranes, proteins, and DNA is well-documented, a significant translational gap persists between our mechanistic understanding and the development of effective clinical interventions. This review critically examines this disconnect by proposing and applying a three-tiered analytical framework. First, we identify and compare the hierarchy of initial molecular targets (e.g., mitochondrial cardiolipin, LDL phospholipids, specific protein thiols) across diseases, arguing that this hierarchy dictates pathological specificity. Second, we trace how these initial insults propagate through shared yet context-dependent mechanistic themes—metabolic dysregulation, inflammatory amplification, and cell death decisions—to drive organ-specific pathology. Third, we synthesize and critically evaluate current and emerging therapeutic strategies (e.g., antioxidants, ferroptosis inhibitors, nutritional modulation) against this mechanistic backdrop, highlighting their potential, limitations, and the need for mechanism-informed, personalized approaches. By moving beyond a descriptive catalog of effects, this review aims to provide a dynamic, intervention-oriented perspective essential for bridging basic science discoveries with translational innovation in combating lipid peroxidation-associated metabolic disorders.
Summary
Keywords
Antioxidation, Free radical, Lipid Peroxidation, metabolic disease, Oxidative Stress
Received
22 January 2026
Accepted
20 February 2026
Copyright
© 2026 Wang, Li, She, Xu, Peng and Ding. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Chongli Xu
Disclaimer
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.