Circadian rhythm abnormalities in patients with inflammatory bowel disease – association with adipokine profile

Abstract

Background: The role of sleep disturbances in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) remained relatively unknown. The aim of this study was to identify the adipokine profile in the patients with IBD and its relationship with the circadian rhythm disorders.Methods: Prospective, observational cohort study was performed. In all the enrolled adult IBD patients, the disease activity was assessed by using Crohn’s Disease Activity Index (CDAI) for Crohn’s disease (CD) and Partial Mayo Score for ulcerative colitis (UC), respectively. All patients were also asked to respond to a questionnaire to define Pittsburgh Quality Sleep Index (PSQI). From all the enrolled patients, 15 mL venous blood was taken to determine adipokine levels and perform standard laboratory tests.Results: Sixty-five IBD patients were enrolled in our study: 30 with CD and 35 with UC. Poor sleep was noted in 69.2% patients with clinically active and in 7.7% patients with inactive disease (p = .0023). In the group of IBD patients with poor sleep, the significantly higher level of serum resistin (p = .0458), and lower level of serum adiponectin and leptin (p = .0215, p = .0201; respectively) were observed. In the IBD patients with exacerbation, the significantly higher level of serum resistin (p = .0396), significantly lower serum level of leptin (p = .0453) and tendency to lower serum level of adiponectin (p = .1214) were recorded.Conclusions: The relationship between circadian rhythm abnormalities and specific adipokine profile may show us a risk factor of developing inflammatory intestinal lesions in IBD patients. This knowledge may allow the treatment of sleep disturbances, body weight-control and dietary habits become new targets in IBD therapy.