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Circulating antioxidant concentrations in children with inflammatory bowel disease
E J Hoffenberg1, J Deutsch, S Smith
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, USA.
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
|May 1, 1997
Summary
Children with Crohn disease show altered antioxidant defenses, including lower vitamin C and higher glutathione and vitamin E levels. These findings suggest potential oxidant stress in pediatric Crohn disease, impacting gastrointestinal health.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Nutritional Biochemistry
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease Pathophysiology
Background:
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) pathogenesis involves chronic gastrointestinal injury, with underlying mechanisms often unclear.
- Antioxidant defenses play a crucial role in mitigating cellular damage from oxidative stress.
- Altered antioxidant status may contribute to the chronic inflammation and injury observed in pediatric IBD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate potential alterations in plasma antioxidant concentrations in children diagnosed with IBD.
- To compare antioxidant levels between children with Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis and healthy controls.
- To explore the relationship between antioxidant status and disease characteristics in pediatric IBD.
Main Methods:
- Plasma concentrations of ascorbic acid, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione, and alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E) were measured.
- Participants included 24 children with IBD (12 Crohn disease, 12 ulcerative colitis) and 23 healthy controls.
- Anthropometric data and disease activity scores were collected; nutritional status was assessed.
Main Results:
- Children with IBD exhibited decreased plasma ascorbic acid and increased glutathione peroxidase, glutathione, and alpha-tocopherol concentrations compared to controls.
- These antioxidant alterations were predominantly observed in the subgroup of children with Crohn disease.
- Malnutrition was more prevalent in children with Crohn disease compared to those with ulcerative colitis and controls.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric Crohn disease is associated with significant alterations in circulating antioxidant defenses.
- The observed changes, particularly in Crohn disease, suggest a state of ongoing oxidant stress.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the role of antioxidant imbalances in IBD progression and to explore therapeutic interventions.