Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Evaluation of Serum Trace Element Levels and Superoxide Dismutase Activity in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Translating Basic Research into Clinical Application

  • Published:
Biological Trace Element Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

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.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1.
Fig. 2.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Kaistha A, Levine J (2014) Inflammatory bowel disease: the classic gastrointestinal autoimmune disease. Curr Probl Pediatr Adolesc Health Care 44:328–334

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Jurjus A, Eid A, Al Kattar S et al (2016) Inflammatory bowel disease, colorectal cancer and type 2 diabetes mellitus: the links. BBA Clinical 5:16–24

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Cosnes J, Gower-Rousseau C, Seksik P (2011) Epidemiology and natural history of inflammatory bowel diseases. Gastroenterology 140:1785–1794

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Talley NJ, Abreu MT, Achkar JP (2011) An evidence-based systematic review on medical therapies for inflammatory bowel disease. Am J Gastroenterol 106(Suppl 1):S2–25 quiz S26

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Natalie A, Molodecky NA, Soon I, Doreen M et al (2012) Increasing incidence and prevalence of the inflammatory bowel diseases with time, based on systematic review. Gastroenterology 142:46–54

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Tonutti E, PAA NB (2014) Inflammatory bowel diseases: where we are and where we should go. Clin Chem Lab Med 52:463–465

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Clemente Actis G (2016) The changing face of inflammatory bowel disease: etiology, physiopathology, epidemiology. Ann Colorectal Res 4:e32942

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Sobczak M, Fabisiak A, Murawska N et al (2014) Current overview of extrinsic and intrinsic factors in etiology and progression of inflammatory bowel diseases. Pharmacol Rep 66:766–775

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Baumgart DC, Carding SR (2007) Inflammatory bowel disease: cause and immunobiology. Lancet 369:1627–1640

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Denson LA (2015) Epithelial reactive oxygen species and risk for very early onset inflammatory bowel disease. CMGH Cellular and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology 1:456–457

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Prashanth L, Kattapagari KK, Chitturi RT et al (2015) A review on role of essential trace elements in health and disease. Journal of Dr NTR University of Heal Sceience 4:75–85

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Glover LE, Colgan SP (2011) Hypoxia and metabolic factors that influence inflammatory bowel disease pathogenesis. Gastroenterology 140:1748–1755

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  13. Thurnham DI (2015) Inflammation and biomarkers of nutrition. SIGHT AND LIFE 29:51–59

    Google Scholar 

  14. Belbraouet S et al (2007) Serum zinc and copper status in hospitalized vs. healthy elderly subjects. J Am Coll Nutr 26(6):650–654

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Paula D et al (2014) Low zinc levels is associated with increased inflammatory activity but not with atherosclerosis, arteriosclerosis or endothelial dysfunction among the very elderly. BBA Clinical 2:1–6

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  16. Mburu ASW et al (2010) The influence of inflammation on plasma zinc concentration in apparently healthy, HIV+ Kenyan adults and zinc responses after a multi-micronutrient supplement. Eur J Clin Nutr 64(5):510–517

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Moura FA et al (2015) Antioxidant therapy for treatment of inflammatory bowel disease: does it work? Redox Biol 6:617–639

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  18. Malavolta M et al (2015) Serum copper to zinc ratio: relationship with aging and health status. Mech Ageing Dev 151:93–100

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Kruidenier L et al (2003) Intestinal oxidative damage in inflammatory bowel disease: semi-quantification, localization, and association with mucosal antioxidants. J Pathol 201(1):28–36

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Dincer Y, Erzin Y, Himmetoglu S, Gunes KN, Bal K, Akcay T (2007) Oxidative DNA damage and antioxidant activity inpatients with inflammatory bowel disease. Digestive Diseasesand Sciences 52:1636–1641

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Rachmilewitz D (1989) Coated mesalazine (5-aminosalicylic acid) versus sulphasalazine in the treatment of active ulcerative colitis: a randomised trial. BMJ : British Medical Journal 298(6666):82–86

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  22. Harvey RF, Bradshaw JM (1980) A simple index of Crohn’s-disease activity. Lancet 315(8167):514

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Huber M et al (2011) How should we define health? BMJ 343:d4163

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Griffin IJ et al (2004) Zinc metabolism in adolescents with Crohn’s disease. Pediatr Res 56(2):235–239

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Tomoko Johtatsu AA, Kurihara M, Iwakawa H et al (2007) Serum concentrations of trace elements in patients with Crohn’s disease receiving enteral nutrition. J Clin Biochem Nutr 41:197–201

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  26. Ibs KH, Rink L (2003) Zinc-altered immune function. J Nutr 133(5 Suppl 1):1452S–1456S

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Prasad AS (2000) Effects of zinc deficiency on immune functions. The Journal of Trace Elements in Experimental Medicine 13:1–20

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Dardenne M (2002) Zinc and immune function. Eur J Clin Nutr 56(Suppl 3):S20–S23

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Stuehr DJ, Griffith OW (1992) Mammalian nitric oxide synthases. Adv Enzymol Relat Areas Mol Biol 65:287–346

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Ojuawo A, Keith L (2002) The serum concentrations of zinc, copper and selenium in children with inflammatory bowel disease. Cent Afr J Med 48:116–119

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Seguí JGM, Sans M, Granell S et al (2004) Superoxide dismutase ameliorates TNBS-induced colitis by reducing oxidative stress, adhesion molecule expression, and leukocyte ecruitment into the inflamed intestine. J Leukoc Biol 76:537–544

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Sakthivel KM, Guruvayoorappan C (2014) Protective effect of Acacia ferruginea against ulcerative colitis via modulating inflammatory mediators, cytokine profile and NF-kappaB signal transduction pathways. J Environ Pathol Toxicol Oncol 33:83–98

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Rise CL, Prabhu VV, Guruvayoorappan C (2012) Effect of marine mangrove Avicennia marina (Forssk.) Vierh against acetic acid-induced ulcerative colitis in experimental mice. J Environ Pathol Toxicol Oncol 31:179–192

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Aleisa AM et al (2014) Pretreatment of Gymnema sylvestre revealed the protection against acetic acid-induced ulcerative colitis in rats. BMC Complement Altern Med 14:49–50

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  35. Wang YH et al (2010) Effects of proanthocyanidins from grape seed on treatment of recurrent ulcerative colitis in rats. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 88:888–898

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Xu BL, Zhang GJ, Ji YB (2015) Active components alignment of Gegenqinlian decoction protects ulcerative colitis by attenuating inflammatory and oxidative stress. J Ethnopharmacol 162:253–260

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Socca EA et al (2014) Inhibition of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and cyclooxigenase-2 by isatin: a molecular mechanism of protection against TNBS-induced colitis in rats. Chem Biol Interact 209:48–55

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Mendes FD et al (2007) Abnormal hepatic biochemistries in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Am J Gastroenterol 102:344–350

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Lundsgaard C et al (1996) Increased hepatic urea synthesis in patients with active inflammatory bowel disease. J Hepatol 24:587–593

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank the personnel of the Endoscopy ward of Ayatollah Rouhani Hospital, the personnel of the Cellular and Molecular Research Center of Babol University of Medical Sciences, Dr. Mohammad Javad Shokri Shirvani (MD, Gastroenterologist) for his assistance in patient recruitment, and Dr. Evangeline Foronda for English editing.

Study Highlights

In IBD patients, the abnormalities in serum levels of trace elements related to inappropriate free radical scavenging system.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Ganjafrooze Avenue, Babol, Mazandaran, Iran

    Erfan Mohammadi & Durdi Qujeq

  2. Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center (CMBRC), Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran

    Durdi Qujeq

  3. Faculty of Medicine, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Ganjafrooze Avenue, P.O. Box: 47176-47745, Babol, Iran

    Durdi Qujeq

  4. Department of Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology Division, Ayatollah Rouhani Hospital, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran

    Hassan Taheri

  5. Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran

    Karimollah Hajian-Tilaki

Authors
  1. Erfan Mohammadi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Durdi Qujeq
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Hassan Taheri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Karimollah Hajian-Tilaki
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Durdi Qujeq.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they do not have a conflict of interest.

All protocols involving patients and control subjects were approved by the Ethics Committee of Babol University of Medical Sciences with the code number of (P/J/30/4332, 93/3/19).

Funding

Funding was provided for the conduct of the study from the Babol University of Medical Sciences (No: p/30/1/2628,93/4/25).

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Mohammadi, E., Qujeq, D., Taheri, H. et al. Evaluation of Serum Trace Element Levels and Superoxide Dismutase Activity in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Translating Basic Research into Clinical Application. Biol Trace Elem Res 177, 235–240 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-016-0891-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-016-0891-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation