Method for therapeutic treatment of inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn's disease, comprising administering to a patient in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising a retinoid as an active ingredient to treat the inflammatory bowel disease, the retinoid being selected from the group consisting of 4-[(5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-5,5,8,8-tetramethyl-2-naphthalenyl) carbamoyl]benzoic acid, 4-[(3,5-bis-trimethylsilylphenyl)carboxamido]benzoic acid, 4-[2,3-(2,5-dimethyl-2,5-hexano)dibenzo[b,f][1,4]thiazepin-11-yl]benzoic acid, and 4-(5H-7,8,9,10-tetrahydro-5,7,7,10,10-pentamethylbenzo[e]naphtho[2,3-b][1,4]diazepin-13-yl)benzoic acid.