Relationship between nutritional status and inflammatory activity in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Background - The inflammatory bowel diseases are characterized by multiple digestive tract symptoms and therefore may interfere with nutritional status. Aim - To assess the nutritional status of patients with inflammatory bowel disease in different stages of inflammatory activity. Methods - Fifty five patients with inflammatory bowel disease were demographically evaluated with weight measurement, height, arm circumference and triceps skinfold and had their body composition determined by bioelectrical impedance. For determination of inflammatory activity of the disease were used serum C-reactive protein and the index of Harvey and Bradshaw. To compare means it was used the unpaired t test, and the average non-parametric, the Mann-Whitney test, level of significance p <0.05. Results - Among the patients, 28 had Crohn's disease and 27 ulcerative colitis, aged between 19 and 63 years and time since diagnosis 1-22 years. There was no difference in anthropometric measurements and body composition of patients whose disease was inflammatory activity or in remission. Patients who used glucocorticoids in the six months preceding the assessment showed body fat percentage of 23.4 +/- 8.2% whilst those who did not use the percentage was 30.7 +/- 11.3 (p < 0.0199). The most common gastrointestinal symptoms were abdominal distension (41%), diarrhea (18%), nausea (13%), constipation (12%), anorexia (11%) and vomiting (5%). All symptoms were more common in patients with higher body mass index and body fat. Conclusion - There were more patients with excess weight and body fat, and these patients were more symptomatic and had higher values of C-reactive protein.