COMPREHENSIVE NUTRITIONAL-STATUS IN PATIENTS WITH LONG-STANDING CROHN-DISEASE CURRENTLY IN REMISSION

Malnutrition is observed frequently and is an important complication i n patients with Crohn disease (CD). The pathophysiology of malnutritio n in this disorder is complex. To obtain a comprehensive picture of nu tritional status in patients with long-standing CD that was clinically in remission, we assessed four measures of nutritional status in 32 p atients (18 women and 14 men) and 32 matched healthy control subjects: 1) body composition, 2) dietary intake, 3) biochemical indexes of nut rition, and 4) and muscle strength (as a functional index). Mean daily intakes of fiber and phosphorus were significantly lower in CD patien ts than in control subjects. Serum concentrations of several nutrients (beta-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, and zinc) and activit y of the enzyme glutathione peroxidase were also significantly lower i n CD patients, as were antioxidant status and serum concentrations of magnesium and vitamin D. Percentage body fat and hamstring muscle stre ngth were significantly lower in male CD patients than in control subj ects, whereas muscle strength of the quadriceps was preserved. In conc lusion, this study showed a variety of nutritional and functional defi ciencies in patients with long-standing CD in remission, especially in male patients with a high lifetime prednisone dose. A comprehensive n utritional assessment seems superior to the assessment of a single dim ension of nutritional status.