Published online Feb 7, 2015. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v21.i5.1614
Peer-review started: August 16, 2014
First decision: September 15, 2014
Revised: October 1, 2014
Accepted: October 21, 2014
Article in press: January 23, 2015
Published online: February 7, 2015
Processing time: 177 Days and 14.4 Hours
AIM: To assess the vitamin A status of patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) by evaluating serum retinol levels and the relative dose response (RDR) test (liver retinol stores).
METHODS: Vitamin A nutritional status was measured by serum retinol obtained by high performance liquid chromatography and the RDR test for evaluation of the hepatic stores. Body composition was performed by densitometry by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Vitamin A dietary intake was assessed from a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire.
RESULTS: This study included 38 CD patients and 33 controls. Low serum retinol concentrations were detected in 29% of CD patients vs 15% in controls (P < 0.005). The RDR test was positive in 37% of CD patients vs 12% in controls, which indicated inadequate hepatic vitamin A stores (P < 0.005). Individuals with hypovitaminosis A had lower BMI and body fat compared with those without this deficiency. There was no association between vitamin A deficiency and its dietary intake, ileal location, presence of disease activity and prior bowel resections.
CONCLUSION: Patients with CD have higher prevalence of vitamin A deficiency, as assessed by two independent methods.
Core tip: In this study, a higher prevalence of vitamin A deficiency was detected in Crohn’s disease (CD) patients compared with healthy controls by measuring serum retinol levels and the relative dose-response test. According to the relative dose-response test, almost 40% of the CD patients had inadequate hepatic vitamin A stores, which was three times the value found in healthy controls. CD Patients with hypovitaminosis A had lower BMI and body fat compared with those without this deficiency. There was no association between vitamin A deficiency and its dietary intake, ileal location, presence of disease activity and prior bowel resections.