Trace Elements and Vitamins at Diagnosis in Pediatric-Onset Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Aim. To compare serum vitamin and mineral levels at diagnosis in children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) versus a control group without. Methods. In a retrospective cohort study, serum levels of iron, zinc, folate, selenium, vitamin B 12 , vitamin A, and vitamin E in children with IBD at diagnosis were compared with gender- and age-matched controls. Results. A total of 154 patients with IBD (mean age 11.27 ± 3.74 years, 83 boys, 80 with Crohn’s disease) were recruited. The mean duration of symptoms prior to diagnosis was 5.4 ± 3.2 months for patients with Crohn’s disease and 4.6 ± 2.9 months for patients with ulcerative colitis. A control group of 64 children was recruited. The mean serum zinc levels were 11.33 ± 4.16 µmol/L for ulcerative colitis, 8.74 ± 2.08 µmol/L for Crohn’s disease and 11.49 ± 1.63 µmol/L for controls ( P < .001). Conclusions. In newly diagnosed children with IBD, serum zinc levels are significantly lower compared with children without IBD.