Subclinical protein malnutrition in irritable bowel syndrome: assessment by retinol-binding protein (RBP) and thyroxine-binding pre-albumin (TBPA).
We have assessed the nutritional status of 31 patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and 75 control subjects by anthropometry (height, weight, mid-arm circumference, biceps, triceps and subscapular skinfolds) and three plasma proteins: albumin, retinol-binding protein (RBP), and thyroxine-binding pre-albumin (TBPA). There was no significant difference between the patients and controls for any of the anthropometric measurements, but mean (+/- s.d.) plasma concentrations of RBP and TBPA were significantly lower in patients with IBS, 7.21 +/- 2.77 mg/dl (P less than 0.01); and 26.57 +/- 7.33 mg/dl, (P less than 0.001) respectively than in the control group, 8.85 +/- 2.56 mg/dl and 32.71 +/- 6.30 mg/dl. We conclude that patients with IBS may have subclinical protein deficiency in the absence of demonstrable organic bowel disease.
D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D001824:Body Constitution; D003109:Colonic Diseases, Functional / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011228:Prealbumin / Q000378:metabolism; D011488:Protein Deficiency / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D012177:Retinol-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D054839:Retinol-Binding Proteins, Plasma; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000378:metabolism*; D013975:Thyroxine-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
D011228:Prealbumin; D012177:Retinol-Binding Proteins; D054839:Retinol-Binding Proteins, Plasma; D012709:Serum Albumin; D013975:Thyroxine-Binding Proteins