Open AccessThe Role of Inflammation on Vitamin D Levels in a Cohort of Pediatric Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Author(s) -
Strisciuglio Caterina,
Cenni Sabrina,
Giugliano Francesca Paola,
Miele Erasmo,
Cirillo Grazia,
Martinelli Massimo,
Vitale Alessandra,
Tolone Carlo,
Staiano Annamaria,
Miraglia Del Giudice Emanuele,
Perrone Laura
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1536-4801
pISSN - 0277-2116
DOI - 10.1097/mpg.0000000000002049
Subject(s) - medicine , vitamin d and neurology , inflammatory bowel disease , gastroenterology , inflammation , vitamin d binding protein , vitamin , cohort , c reactive protein , vitamin d deficiency , disease , immunology
Objectives: Existing studies usually do not measure the free vitamin D in pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and not consider the effect of inflammation on vitamin D levels. The aim of our study was to evaluate the concentrations of vitamin D–binding protein (VDBP), total and free 25‐hydroxyvitamin‐D (25(OH)D), and to correlate these values with the disease activity markers. Methods: Newly diagnosed children with IBD and a group of healthy controls (HCs) were enrolled. VDBP and total and free 25(OH)D levels were measured by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay and compared using the Student t test. In each patient with IBD, the activity scores of disease and the main inflammation markers were correlated to total and free 25(OH)D levels. C‐reactive protein was also measured in the control group, and it was related to VDBP by a linear regression test for all the groups. Results: Fifty‐one consecutive children were enrolled: IBD = 33, HC = 18. Levels of total 25(OH)D were higher in HC than in patients with IBD ( P = 0.01). The free/total 25(OH)D ratio was, however, higher in patients with IBD compared to HC ( P < 0.001). Finally, levels of VDBP were lower in patients with IBD than in HC ( P = 0.001). A significant direct correlation was found between the free/total 25(OH)D ratio and the activity index of disease ( r 2 : 0.17; P = 0.01). Moreover, in patients with IBD and controls we found a significant indirect correlation between VDBP and C‐reactive protein ( r 2 : 0.12; P = 0.01). Conclusions: Inflammation inversely correlates to VDBP concentrations and patients with IBD, despite their deficiency in total 25(OH)D, have normal or even higher levels of free 25(OH)D.