Are Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients at an Increased Risk for Early Atherosclerosis? A Meta-Analysis

Abstract

BODY: Background: Several studies have demonstrated that patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) have a high prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency. In addition, it has been postulated that low Vitamin D status is associated with more severe disease activity. There are limited data on the vitamin D status in ulcerative colitis patients after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA). The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency in patients after IPAA and to determine if there is an association between the severity of pouchitis and vitamin D status. Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of ulcerative colitis patients followed in the Center for Digestive Disorders at the Boston Medical Center who underwent an IPAA for ulcerative colitis (UC) between January 1, 2010 and November 15, 2010 and who had 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels obtained as part of their routine care. Demographic and clinical variables including patient age, gender, and race were obtained. 25(OH) D levels 30 ng/ml (p=0.822). 18.2% of vitamin D deficient patients had severe pouchitis compared with 25.0% of patients with normal 25(OH) D levels. Conclusion: Nearly all ulcerative colitis patients after IPAA are vitamin D deficient or insufficient. However, vitamin D status did not correlate with the severity of pouchitis. Future studies are needed to determine if vitamin D supplementation improves clinical outcomes after IPAA.