This study investigated whether changes in serum thiol redox balance can identify individuals at risk of developing Crohn’s disease (CD) before symptoms appear. Researchers found that an elevated ratio of cysteine sulfinic acid to cysteine in healthy first-degree relatives of patients with CD was associated with a significantly higher risk of developing the disease in the future. This biomarker was also linked to markers of intestinal and systemic inflammation, as well as broad metabolic and proteomic changes. The findings suggest that oxidative stress–related redox alterations occur during the preclinical phase of Crohn’s disease and may help identify high-risk individuals earlier.

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