High prevalence of vitamin A deficiency in Crohn's disease patients according to serum retinol levels and the relative dose-response test

AIM:To assess the vitamin A status of patients with Crohn's disease(CD) by evaluating serum retinol levels and the relative dose response(RDR) test(liver retinol stores).METHODS:Vitamin A nutritional status was measured by serum retinol obtained by high performance liquid chromatography and the RDR test for evaluation of the hepatic stores.Body composition was performed by densitometry by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.Vitamin A dietary intake was assessed from a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire.RESULTS:This study included 38 CD patients and 33 controls.Low serum retinol concentrations were detected in 29% of CD patients vs 15% in controls(P < 0.005).The RDR test was positive in 37% of CD patients vs 12% in controls,which indicated inadequate hepatic vitamin A stores(P < 0.005).Individuals with hypovitaminosis A had lower BMI and body fat compared with those without this deficiency.There was no association between vitamin A deficiency and its dietary intake,ileal location,presence of disease activity and prior bowel resections.CONCLUSION:Patients with CD have higher prevalence of vitamin A deficiency,as assessed by two independent methods.