Evaluation of insulin resistance and beta cell activity in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Insulin resistance is an important risk factor for developing metabolic syndromes that cause morbidity diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Interestingly, in chronic inflammatory diseases, some inflammatory mediators can play, either directly or indirectly, a pivot role in the development of insulin resistance. This can be considered as an additional factor causing increased mortality and morbidity in these patients. In this paper, we want to investigate and compare the insulin resistance status in patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and healthy control, as well as different stages of patients with Ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's Disease (CD).

A total of 180 patients were enrolled in this study; while 95 patients had inflammatory bowel disease [Crohn's Disease (n): 47, Ulcerative colitis (n): 48], 85 people were healthy controls. Insulin resistance status was evaluated with the HOMA-IR (hemostasis model of assessment of insulin resistance) index. p < 0.05 was accepted as significant.

The mean HOMA-IR levels were found to be similar for both IBD and control, and Crohn's disease and control (p = 0.174, p = 0.96, respectively); but the mean HOMA-IR score in ulcerative colitis, one of the IBD subgroups, was significantly higher than the control group (p < 0.039).

This study clearly showed that insulin resistance is increased in ulcerative colitis. Consequently, patients with ulcerative colitis should be followed and closely monitored for developing insulin resistance, metabolic syndromes, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. Consequently, all of them can cause an additional risk of morbidity and mortality in these patients.