Kosin Medical Journal  2013;28(1):7-12

doi:10.7180/kmj.2013.28.1.7

Nutritional Treatment: New Strategy for Management of Chronic Pelvic Pain.

Jong Soon CHOI 1 ; Heung Yeol KIM

Affiliations

+expand

Keywords

Antioxidant; Chronic pelvic pain; Inflammation; Oxidative stress

Country

Republic 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.