ANTIOXIDANTS AND MUCOSA PROTECTIVES - REALISTIC THERAPEUTIC OPTIONS IN INFLAMMATORY BOWEL-DISEASE

OXIDATIVE damage is involved in the pathogenic process of idiopathic c hronic inflammatory bowel disease. Although specific intervention in t he oxidative cascade showed promising results in animal models and pre liminary patient trials, the clinical efficacy of antioxidants still h as to be established. Mucosa protection, for example by dietary fatty acids, seems to attenuate the intestinal inflammatory process as well but awaits definite clinical proof for the treatment of inflammatory b owel disease.