Related Experiment Videos
Zinc status in inflammatory bowel disease
C C Ainley1, J Cason, L K Carlsson
1Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Rayne Institute, St. Thomas' Hospital, London.
Clinical Science (London, England : 1979)
|September 1, 1988
Summary
Plasma zinc levels are often low in Crohn's disease, especially in malnourished individuals, but are normal in ulcerative colitis. Erythrocyte and leucocyte zinc levels show varied results in inflammatory bowel disease patients.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Clinical Chemistry
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Zinc is an essential trace element crucial for immune function and cellular processes.
- Alterations in zinc homeostasis have been implicated in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) like Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC).
- Understanding tissue-specific zinc distribution is vital for managing IBD patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate and compare zinc concentrations in plasma, erythrocytes, and different leucocyte subsets in patients with CD and UC versus healthy controls.
- To determine the relationship between plasma zinc levels, nutritional status, and disease activity in CD and UC.
Main Methods:
- Quantification of zinc levels in plasma, erythrocytes, polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNs), and mononuclear leucocytes (MNLs) using atomic absorption spectrophotometry or inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.
- Patient cohorts included 31 CD patients, 15 UC patients, and 18 normal controls.
- Correlation analysis was performed between zinc levels, plasma albumin, and disease activity indices.
Main Results:
- Plasma zinc levels were significantly lower in CD patients, particularly those with malnutrition, and correlated with plasma albumin. UC patients showed normal plasma zinc.
- Erythrocyte and mononuclear leucocyte zinc levels were generally normal in both CD and UC.
- Polymorphonuclear leucocyte zinc levels were mostly normal, but subnormal levels were observed in inactive CD, and elevated levels in active CD. Subnormal PMN zinc was also noted in a small percentage of UC patients.
Conclusions:
- Plasma zinc deficiency is characteristic of Crohn's disease, linked to nutritional status and albumin levels, but not typically seen in ulcerative colitis.
- Tissue zinc depletion is uncommon in IBD patients, with most zinc abnormalities localized to plasma and specific leucocyte populations.
- Leucocyte zinc levels may serve as potential biomarkers for disease activity in Crohn's disease.