Therapies Targeting Redox Balance Improve Wound Healing: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background Oxidative stress plays a crucial role in the pathophysiology of impaired wound healing. Indeed, it has been the focus of different therapeutic interventions, which have been explored primarily for their potential to enhance tissue repair. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effects of various therapeutic interventions on oxidative stress markers and wound healing parameters in clinical wound models. Methods A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed (2015-2025), identifying 21 eligible studies that assessed oxidative stress-related systemic or topical treatments in clinical models of acute or chronic wounds. The risks of bias in the studies were analyzed using the Cochrane RoB 2 tool. Data were extracted on oxidative stress biomarkers (e.g., MDA, SOD, GSH) and wound healing outcomes (e.g., wound closure rate, histological scores). Meta-analyses were performed using random-effects models, and heterogeneity was assessed using the I 2 statistic. Outcomes were evaluated with the “Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations” system. Results Most interventions demonstrated significant reductions in oxidative stress markers and improvements in wound healing metrics compared to controls. The meta-analysis revealed a pooled effect favoring treated groups in both biochemical and morphological outcomes, although with moderate heterogeneity across studies. Conclusions The therapeutic efficacy related to oxidative stress in wound healing outcomes may be attributable, at least in part, to consistently enhanced antioxidant profiles and reduced oxidative stress markers. These findings support the need for further translational research into antioxidant-based therapies for wound management.