ALTERED PLASMA AND MUCOSAL CONCENTRATIONS OF TRACE-ELEMENTS AND ANTIOXIDANTS IN ACTIVE ULCERATIVE-COLITIS

Background: The production of free radicals is increased in inflammato ry bowel disease, and trace elements are crucial components of several antioxidants, Trace elements deficiency may therefore compromise the defense against oxidative damage. The aims of this study were to measu re plasma and tissue concentration of trace elements and antioxidants and to relate this to disease activity. Methods: A 10-ml blood sample and six colonic biopsy specimens were obtained from 24 patients with e ither active ulcerative colitis or in remission and 10 patients with i rritable bowel syndrome for measurement of trace elements and trace el ement-dependent enzymes. Results: Patients with moderately active dise ase had significantly lower plasma iron, selenium, and glutathione per oxidase levels than patients in remission and controls, whereas no sig nificant differences were found between the zinc and copper values of patients and controls. Mucosal concentrations of zinc and metallothion ein were reduced, whereas iron and glutathione peroxidase concentratio ns were increased in patients with endoscopically active disease as co mpared with controls and patients in remission. Conclusions: Patients with ulcerative colitis have altered plasma and tissue levels of trace elements and antioxidant-related enzymes. The resulting reduced prote ction against free radicals may contribute to the inflammatory process .