- Author:
Jong Soon CHOI
1
;
Heung Yeol KIM
Author Information
- Publication Type:Review
- Keywords: Antioxidant; Chronic pelvic pain; Inflammation; Oxidative stress
- MeSH: Antioxidants; Cytokines; Dietary Supplements; Female; Humans; Immune System; Inflammation; Iron; Neuralgia; NF-kappa B; Oxidative Stress; Pelvic Pain; Reactive Oxygen Species
- From:Kosin Medical Journal 2013;28(1):7-12
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: Chronic pelvic pain is a common condition in women of reproductive age and can be described as chronic nociceptive, inflammatory and neuropathic pain characterized by spontaneous pain or a response to various stimuli. Oxidative stress is a component of the inflammatory reaction associated with pain processes. Iron and NF-kappaB are well-known inducers of oxidative stress, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) are associated with chronic pelvic pain and play an important role in the regulation of genes expressing immunoregulators, cytokines, and other molecules. Chronic pelvic pain treatment is often unsatisfactory and limited to symptom control. However, dietary treatment with antioxidants can improve the function of the immune system and overcome free radical damage. Therefore, dietary supplementation is suggested as a means to treat some chronic medical conditions that respond poorly to medication. In summary, dietary treatment with antioxidants could be considered for new strategy for treatment of chronic pelvic pain and may be better tolerated by patients than current treatments.