Intest Res.  2019 Jan;17(1):70-77. 10.5217/ir.2018.00022.

Vitamin D deficiency is associated with disease activity in patients with Crohn’s disease

• Ko KH
• Kim YS
• Lee BK
• Choi JH
• Woo YM
• Kim JY
• Moon JS

• KMID: 2438445
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5217/ir.2018.00022

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
Previous data suggest that vitamin D has a significant role in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We investigated the incidence of vitamin D deficiency in Korean patients with IBD and the correlation between serum vitamin D level and disease activity.
METHODS
We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of patients with IBD whose serum vitamin D levels were checked. Deficiency of 25-hydroxyvitamin D was defined as < 20 ng/mL. Disease activity was evaluated using the partial Mayo score for ulcerative colitis (≥2 defined as active disease) and Harvey-Bradshaw index for Crohn's disease (≥4 defined as active disease).
RESULTS
We enrolled 87 patients with IBD (ulcerative colitis [UC], 45; Crohn's disease [CD], 42). Among them, 65.5% (57/87) were men, with a mean age of 44.9±15.1 years (range, 18-75 years). The mean duration of disease was 4.7±4.8 years (range, 0.1-17.1 years). Vitamin D deficiency was found in 73.6% (64/87) of patients with IBD. Patients with IBD (mean vitamin D level, 16.3±9.0 ng/mL) showed lower vitamin D level than the healthy control group (mean vitamin D level, 20.4±7.0 ng/mL), with no statistically significant difference (P=0.136). Disease activity was inversely correlated with vitamin D deficiency in patients with CD (P=0.007). However, no correlation was observed in patients with UC (P=0.134).
CONCLUSIONS
Approximately 75% of Korean patients with IBD showed vitamin D deficiency state. Vitamin D deficiency is associated with disease activity, particularly in patients with CD.

Keyword

Inflammatory bowel diseases; Vitamin D deficiency; Disease activity

MeSH Terms

Colitis
Colitis, Ulcerative
Humans
Incidence
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
Male
Medical Records
Retrospective Studies
Vitamin D Deficiency*
Vitamin D*
Vitamins*
Vitamin D
Vitamins

Figure

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  Fig. 1. Comparison of vitamin D levels between healthy control group, UC and CD patients.

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  Fig. 2. Association between vitamin D levels and disease activity in patients with IBD. (A) UC (n=45) and (B) CD (n=42).

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