title: Evaluation of Serum Trace Element Levels and Superoxide Dismutase Activity in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Translating Basic Research into Clinical Application.
abstract: The relationship of minerals and trace elements with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is complex. Alterations in their metabolism can be induced by the diseases and their complications. To study the role of trace elements in IBD patients' serum zinc and copper and their related enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), activity were measured in patients with IBD patients as well as in healthy subjects. In addition, the correlation between serum trace element levels, albumin, total protein, urea level, copper/zinc ratio, and disease activity (DA) was determined in these subjects. Serum samples were obtained from 35 patients (19 ulcerative colitis (UC) and 16 Crohn's disease (CD)) in the active phase of the disease and 30 healthy control subjects. Serum levels of zinc, copper, SOD activity, albumin, total protein, and urea were measured. The results were compared between the two groups using independent Student's t test in statistical analysis. Serum levels of zinc, SOD activity, albumin, and total protein were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in patients than controls, while serum urea level was significantly higher in patients compared to controls. Copper concentrations did not differ between patients with IBD (mean ± SD, 58.8 ± 20.7 μg/d) and controls (55.57 ± 12.6 μg/d). Decreased levels of zinc and SOD activity are associated with increased inflammatory processes indicating inappropriate antioxidant system in patients with IBD. Additionally, lower levels of albumin and total protein with higher level of urea reflect metabolic problems in liver system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Ganjafrooze Avenue, Babol, Mazandaran, Iran.
authors.forename: Erfan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mohammadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Ganjafrooze Avenue, Babol, Mazandaran, Iran. d.qujeq@mubabol.ac.ir.|Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center (CMBRC), Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran. d.qujeq@mubabol.ac.ir.|Faculty of Medicine, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Ganjafrooze Avenue, P.O. Box: 47176-47745, Babol, Iran. d.qujeq@mubabol.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Durdi
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Qujeq
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology Division, Ayatollah Rouhani Hospital, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Taheri
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
authors.forename: Karimollah
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hajian-Tilaki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019963:Clinical Chemistry Tests; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013053:Spectrophotometry; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014131:Trace Elements; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase
keywords: Crohn’s disease; Inflammatory bowel disease; Trace elements; Ulcerative colitis