Natural supplementary treatment and element content in erythrocytes of patients with moderately active ulcerative colitis

Abstract

Objective: Besides several other symptoms, metal ion and antioxidant deficiencies may also characterize ulcerative colitis (UC). For supplementary treatment, black radish-containing remedy (Raphacol bile granule with vitamins A, E, C, polyphenols and isothiocyanate content) was applied to moderate activity UC patients to estimate its effect on the element status. Patients: 15 Caucasian volunteers, 25 moderate severity UC patients with therapy recommended by WHO and 25 patients treated with Raphacol bile granule (0.2g/day for 6 months) were studied. Method: Element content (Al, Ca, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, P, S and Zn) in erythrocytes of patients were determined with inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometer (ICP-AES). Results and conclusions: Ca, Fe and Zn concentration decreased significantly in erythrocytes of UC patients (24.38±11.00; 415.0±87.6; 10.86±4.37 micromol/l, repectively) compared to controls (69.25±21.00; 535.5±69.1; 16.67±3.34 micromol/l, repectively). Significantly increased Cu (0.551±0.380 micromol/l), Fe (534.6±23.1 micromol/l), Mg (63.41±11.19 micromol/l) and P (1089.0±104.2 micromol/l) concenteration were observed in erythrocytes after six month of Raphacol granule treatment. Conclusion: The small amount of black radish treatment for six months was favorable for element content in erythrocytes of patients with moderately active UC. This effect may be connected to the local antioxidant effect of the bioactive agents and the increased element absorption. The work was supported by ETT 012/2006, NKFP-1B 047/2004, NKFP-1/A/005/2004.