Status of lipidsoluble antioxidants and TRAP in patients with Crohn’s disease and healthy controls

Abstract

Objective: to assess the status of lipidsoluble antioxidants (carotenoids, tocopherols, ubiquinone), retinol and their correlation with TRAP (total radical-trapping antioxidant potential) in patients with Crohn’s disease.

Design: Prospective case-control study.

Setting: Clinic of Internal Medicine IV/Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Vienna Medical School.

Subjects/Methods: Plasma antioxidant concentrations were determined in patients with Crohn’s disease (n=24) to evaluate the antioxidant capacity compared to healthy controls (n=33). Additionally, plasma TRAP (total radical-trapping anitoxidant potential) was measured in 13 patients and 22 controls.

Results: All investigated carotenoids (α-carotene, β-carotene and cryptoxanthin) were significantly decreased in patients with Crohn’s disease (10.2±9.3, 16.2±12.4 and 7.8±5.5 μg/dl) compared to controls (13.3±5,1, 34.7±18.8 and 48.5±38.4 μg/dl, respectively), whereas γ-tocopherol and ubiquinone were significantly elevated in patients (0.14±0.07 mg/dl and 2.3±41.5 μg/dl, controls: 0.09±0.04 mg/dl and 60.8±30.0 μg/dl, respectively). Retinol and α-tocopherol did not significantly differ from controls. The total radical-trapping antioxidant potential (TRAP) was significantly lower in patients (1.11±0.28 μmol/l) compared to controls (1.34±0.26 μmol/l). Antioxidants were neither related to duration or severity of disease nor to disease activity.

Conclusions: In patients with Crohn’s disease several plasma antioxidant parameters are altered and the total radical-trapping antioxidant potential is decreased.