Vitamin D Deficiency Is Associated with Endoscopic Severity in Patients with Crohn’s Disease

Abstract EN

Background and Aims.

Vitamin D deficiency is common in patients with Crohn’s disease and is associated with disease activity.

Relationship between vitamin D and endoscopic disease activity is unknown.

The aim of the study is to determine the association between vitamin D status and endoscopic disease activity in CD patients.

Methods.

Consecutive hospitalized CD patients from 2014 to 2016 who received vitamin D assessment and colonoscopy were retrospectively evaluated.

Clinical disease activity was assessed by Crohn’s disease activity index and C-reactive protein.

Endoscopic activity was calculated using simple endoscopic score for Crohn’s disease.

Results.

Median serum 25OHD level of 131 patients was lower than healthy controls [21.1 nmol/L (11.8–32.3) versus 49.9 nmol/L (44.9–57.4), P=0.007].

125 (95%) patients had vitamin D deficiency and the rest (5%) had vitamin D insufficiency.

Serum 25OHD was inversely correlated with CRP (r=−0.308, P<0.001), CDAI (r=−0.582, P<0.001), SES-CD (r=−0.294, P=0.001), and endoscopic severity stratified by SES-CD (P=0.001).

Conclusion.

Vitamin D deficiency was prevalent among hospitalized CD patients.

Vitamin D levels were inversely correlated with endoscopic disease activity.

Vitamin D status could be a biomarker in assessing disease activity among hospitalized CD patients in addition to CDAI and CRP.