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Effect of natural polyphenols (Pycnogenol) on oxidative stress markers in children suffering from Crohn's disease--a
M Koláček1, J Muchová, M Dvořáková
1Institute of Medical Chemistry, Biochemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
Insights
Oxidative stress (OS) is implicated in Crohn's disease (CD) remission. A pilot study found Pycnogenol® (Pyc) supplementation improved OS markers and clinical parameters in pediatric CD patients.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Immunology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic gastrointestinal inflammatory condition.
- Oxidative stress (OS) is hypothesized to play a role in CD pathogenesis, but its specific involvement during remission is unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between OS markers in pediatric CD patients in remission and the potential impact of Pycnogenol® (Pyc) on these markers and clinical parameters.
Main Methods:
- A pilot study compared 15 pediatric CD patients in remission with 15 healthy controls.
- Assessed Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, protein oxidative damage, inflammation markers (calprotectin, CRP), Pediatric Crohn's Disease Activity Index (PCDAI), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC).
- Patients received 2 mg/kg of Pycnogenol® (Pyc) for 10 weeks.
Main Results:
- Pediatric CD patients in remission exhibited reduced SOD activity and increased protein oxidative damage compared to controls.
- Negative correlations were observed between inflammation markers (calprotectin, CRP), PCDAI, and TAC.
- Antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, glutathione peroxidase) negatively correlated with calprotectin and PCDAI.
- Pycnogenol® (Pyc) administration improved OS parameters in CD patients.
Conclusions:
- Oxidative stress is present in pediatric Crohn's disease patients even during remission.
- Pycnogenol® (Pyc) shows potential as an intervention to modulate oxidative stress and improve clinical outcomes in CD.
Abstract:
Crohn's disease (CD) is a nonspecific, chronic inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract. It is supposed that in etiopathogenesis oxidative stress (OS) plays a role. However, its precise role in the active and non-active states of disease is not known yet. We conducted a pilot study focusing on the relationship between OS of CD in remission and the possibility to influence clinical parameters and markers of OS by polyphenolic extract, Pycnogenol® (Pyc). Compared to 15 healthy controls 15 pediatric CD patients (all were in remission according to their disease activity index - PCDAI) had reduced the activity of Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD) and increased the oxidative damage to proteins. We found negative correlations between markers of inflammation (calprotectin, CRP) as well as between PCDAI and total antioxidant capacity (TAC). Activities of antioxidant enzymes, SOD, and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) negatively correlated with calprotectin and PCDAI. Pyc (2 mg/kg) positively influenced the parameters of OS in CD patients after 10 weeks of administration.
