Micronutrient deficiency among patients with ulcerative colitis

Abstract

Background and aim Malnutrition is a common problem among patients with inflammatory bowel disease and up to 18–62% of ulcerative colitis (UC) patients were reported to be malnourished. This study aimed to assess micronutrient status among naïve UC patients and its correlation with disease severity. Methods A prospective case-control study carried out on 46 patients who visited our endoscopy unit between April 2019 and April 2021. The patients were classified into 3 groups of mild, moderate, and severe UC based on colonoscopy findings, and histopathological examination. Serum was collected and assayed for levels of iron, magnesium, zinc, selenium, and copper. Results Forty-six (17 male, 29 female) patients divided into 2 groups (23 naïve UC patients and 23 healthy individuals) with the mean age of 32 years were included in the study. The serum levels of magnesium, zinc, and selenium were significantly lower in the UC group (p < 0.001, 0.018 and < 0.001, respectively). However, iron and copper levels were not significantly different between the 2 groups. In discriminating severe from mild-moderate UC cases, there was a statistically significant result of magnesium at cutoff 1.8 or less in discriminating severe from mild to moderate UC cases with an AUC of 0.950 and p value of < 0.001. Conclusion Micronutrients should be assessed in patients in UC patients to alert to the fact that correction of these deficiencies could facilitate achievement of remission. Further research is needed to confirm if magnesium levels could serve as a predictor of the disease severity.

Nutritional Status and Its Detection in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

“…Geerling et al [45] showed similar selenium concentrations in CD patients and HSs, but lower selenium levels in UC patients compared to HSs. Significantly lower selenium levels in UC patients compared to controls were also reported by Sturniolo et al [26] and Hussien et al [49]. Castro Aguilar-Tablada et al [60], in a study including 106 IBD patients (53 with UC and 53 with CD) and 30 HSs, showed significantly lower serum selenium levels in the UC patients and CD patients compared to the HSs.…”

“…In addition, a statistical trend for the association between hair magnesium concentration and UC disease activity (p = 0.055) was reported [48]. Hussien et al [49], in a study including 23 UC patients and 23 controls, reported a significantly lower serum magnesium in UC patients compared with HSs (p < 0.001) [49].…”

“…According to the authors, lower zinc concentrations are related to more active inflammatory processes, indicating an incorrect antioxidant system in IBD patients [54]. Additionally, Hussien et al [49] reported a significantly lower serum zinc concentration accompanied by lower magnesium and selenium levels in UC patients compared to controls (p = 0.018). In a study by Hengstermann et al [55] including 167 IBD patients and 45 healthy controls, there were similar serum zinc concentrations in inactive and active IBD patients and controls.…”

Micronutrients deficiency among ulcerative colitis patients

“…Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory bowel disease that affects both gender equally and is generally diagnosed between late teens and early adulthood [1][2][3]. UC has a direct impact on patients' quality of life and is linked to a variety of health issues, including toxic megacolon, strictures, and colorectal cancer [4,5].…”