Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a long-term, relapsing disorder characterized by inflammation of gastrointestinal tract. Malnutrition affects up to 38% of those in remission and up to 70% of individuals with active IBD, which is quite common in this condition.
Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate nutritional deficiencies in IBD cases.
Patients and methods: Thisprospective cohort study comprised 90 Egyptian patients IBD, encompassing both ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) recruited from Endemic Medicine Department, Helwan University from October 2023 to July 2024. Each patient was subjected to history taking, physical examination (Height, weight, body mass index), and laboratory investigations (Serum electrolytes, minerals, albumin, total protein) during activity and remission.
Results: The mean actual body weight showed a significant increase during remission (P<0.001) in each group. The median of all serum electrolytes was significantly elevated during remission except for K and P in the CD group. The median vitamin D level showed a weak significant decrease in the CD group (19 ng/mL vs. 13 ng/mL, P = 0.049). All types of anemias can be found in IBD patients, with the predominance of microcytic type during activity (70.8% in the UC group and 64% in the CD group). Total protein and serum albumin were significantly increased during remission within each group.
Conclusion: All types of anemias can be found in IBD patients during activity or remission, micronutrient deficiencies are predominant during activity in both groups, and total protein and serum albumin were significantly increased during remission.