Oxidative stress and antioxidant capacity in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Objectives: In this study we aimed to determine the levels of Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and Malondialdehyde (MDA) in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) to investigate their contribution to tissue injury in inflammatory bowel disease. Design and methods: Forty-seven GSH-Px patients (35 with ulcerative colitis and 12 with Crohn's disease) and 30 healthy controls were included in the study. Their plasma and MDA levels were compared using nonparametric statistical methods. Results: Plasma GSH-Px levels of the patients group were significantly higher than the control group (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference between patients and controls in view of plasma levels of MDA. Conclusions: High levels of GSH-Px, which is response against oxidative stress, indicates the increase of free radicals in IBD, while normal plasma MDA levels suggest the clearance of free radicals without leading to lipid peroxidation. Our result reveals that there is an existing antioxidant capacity despite oxidative stress in patients with IBD. (C) 2002 The Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists. All rights reserved.