The effect of vitamin D serum levels on the values of C-reactive protein and fecal calprotectin in patients with ulcerative colitis in clinical remission

Žarko Krnetić; Tijana Ičin; Željka Savić; Olgica Latinović Bošnjak; Vladimir Vračarić; Dimitrije Damjanov; Tatiana Jocić; Radoslav Pejin; Nebojša Janjić

doi:10.2298/VSP230912060K

Žarko Krnetić University Clinical Center of Vojvodina, Clinic for Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Novi Sad, Serbia
Tijana Ičin University Clinical Center of Vojvodina, Clinic for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, Novi Sad, Serbia; University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Medicine, Novi Sad, Serbia
Željka Savić University Clinical Center of Vojvodina, *Clinic for Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Novi Sad, Serbia; University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Medicine, Novi Sad, Serbia
Olgica Latinović Bošnjak University Clinical Center of Vojvodina, Clinic for Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Novi Sad, Serbia
Vladimir Vračarić University Clinical Center of Vojvodina, Clinic for Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Novi Sad, Serbia
Dimitrije Damjanov University Clinical Center of Vojvodina, Clinic for Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Novi Sad, Serbia University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Medicine, Novi Sad, Serbia
Tatiana Jocić University Clinical Center of Vojvodina, Clinic for Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Novi Sad, Serbia
Radoslav Pejin University Clinical Center of Vojvodina, Clinic for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, Novi Sad, Serbia; University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Medicine, Novi Sad, Serbia
Nebojša Janjić University Clinical Center of Vojvodina, Clinic for Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Novi Sad, Serbia; University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Medicine, Novi Sad, Serbia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2298/VSP230912060K

Keywords: biomarkers;, c-reactive protein;, colitis, ulcerative;, feces;, remission induction;, vitamin d

Abstract

Background/Aim. Vitamin D plays a critical role in digestive calcium absorption and, thanks to its immunomodulatory properties, affects intestinal barrier integrity, gut microbiota, and immune system functionality. The aim of the study was to examine 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) in clinical remission, as well as its effects on the values of fecal calprotectin (FC) and C-reactive protein (CRP). Methods. The research, conducted as a cross-sectional study, included 62 patients with UC in clinical remission. Serum levels of 25(OH)D and CRP were determined from venous blood specimens, while FC levels were assessed from stool samples. Endoscopic activity was evaluated through colonoscopy and was expressed by the Mayo Endoscopic Score (MES). Results. Out of the 62 participants with UC in clinical remission, 38 (61.3%) were males, and 24 (38.7%) were females. The average 25(OH)D level in those patients was 49.87 ± 23.5 nmol/L. Among the patients with UC, six (9.7%) participants had sufficient vitamin D levels (> 75 nmol/L), whereas insufficiency (< 50 nmol/L) and deficiency (50–75 nmol/L) were established in 32 (51.6%) and 24 (38.7%) participants, respectively. In the analyzed sample, 25(OH)D serum levels did not significantly correlate either with FC (r = 0.077, p = 0.551), CRP (r = –0.111, p = 0.392), or MES (r = 0.02, p = 0.787). Conclusion. In our investigation, the 25(OH)D serum level did not significantly influence the values of the MES nor the biomarkers of inflammation – FC and CRP.

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