Free Radicals in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, is a chronic and recurrent inflammatory disorder of the colon and rectum. While the precise pathogenesis of IBD remains unknown, oxidative stress caused by reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species is believed to be an important factor involved in the onset and development of intestinal inflammation. Furthermore, a depressed antioxidant defense system is involved in the pathophysiology of IBD. In this review, we present what is currently known regarding the role of oxidative stress in IBD.