Affiliation:
1. Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Monash Health Clayton Victoria Australia
2. Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences Monash University Clayton Victoria Australia
Abstract
AbstractBackground and AimA reliable serum biomarker for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) activity is needed. Vitamin D is involved in inflammation and has been demonstrated to be low in IBD patients with active disease. It is routinely measured in IBD patients. Therefore, vitamin D may have a role as a serum biomarker in IBD. This study aims to investigate whether serum vitamin D may be useful as a biomarker in IBD in a real‐world IBD population.MethodsPatients were identified by review of fecal calprotectin (FCP) results, and those who had a clinical review, vitamin D test, and FCP performed within 3 months were included. Clinical scores were calculated from chart review. Nonparametric tests were used to investigate vitamin D and FCP levels, serum biomarkers, and clinical scores.ResultsOf 616 patients identified, 325 episodes of matched vitamin D level and biomarker data were obtained. A statistically significant correlation was found between vitamin D levels and FCP levels for all patients (r = −0.19 [s –0.29 to −0.080], P < 0.001]. This remained true when patients were divided into IBD subsets. Low vitamin D was associated with partial Mayo scores and C‐reactive protein (CRP) to albumin ratio in ulcerative colitis, and CRP and CRP/albumin ratio in Crohn's disease.ConclusionVitamin D level is negatively correlated with FCP and it may be considered as an adjunct biomarker at this stage. A prospective study would be beneficial to investigate further correlations between vitamin D and existing biomarkers of inflammation in IBD.
Subject
Gastroenterology,Hepatology