Nutrition Assessment of Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Abstract

Background: Malnutrition among inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) subjects is well documented in the literature and may arise from factors including inadequate dietary intake, malabsorption, and disease activity. The aims of this present study were to complete a comprehensive nutrition assessment of IBD subjects. Methods: One hundred twenty-six consecutive adults with IBD completed anthropometric measures, 4-day food-record assessments, and biochemical markers of nutrition. Results: A high prevalence of inadequate nutrient consumption was observed: vitamin E (63%), vitamin D (36%), vitamin A (26%), calcium (23%), folate (19%), iron (13%), and vitamin C (11%). Several biochemical deficiencies were also observed. The prevalence of subnormal serum levels was hemoglobin (40%), ferritin (39.2%), vitamin B₆ (29%), carotene (23.4%), vitamin B₁₂ (18.4%), vitamin D (17.6%), albumin (17.6%), and zinc (15.2%). Dietary intake was not correlated with serum levels in all instances; there was a highly significant correlation between diet and serum values of vitamin B₁₂, folate, and vitamin B₆ for all IBD subjects, independent of disease activity, and for vitamin D among all IBD subjects in remission. Conclusions: Subjects with IBD have a high rate of iron deficiency and anemia, which are most likely not secondary to diet. Supplementing with iron should be warranted only if a true iron deficiency exists. The routine evaluation of serum vitamin B₆ and vitamin D levels is recommended. Routine multivitamin supplementation is warranted in IBD in view of numerous dietary and biochemical deficiencies observed among adult IBD subjects. Even if subjects with IBD seem to be well nourished, they may harbor vitamin/mineral deficiencies.

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease seem to be well nourished by conventional nutrition assessment yet may have micronutrient deficiencies. This warrants the routine testing of micronutrient status and supplementation because diet appears to have a minor effect on the appearance of potential deficiencies.

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