Association between Serum folate with inflammatory markers, disease clinical activity and serum homocysteine in patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Does folate level have an effect on maintaining clinical remission?

BACKGROUND: Folate is an important vitamin with protective effect against some human diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between serum folate levels, inflammatory markers and disease clinical activity in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). METHODS: The participants were classified into two groups in which 38 IBD patients and 38 healthy controls were studied. Disease clinical activities were evaluated by means of established score systems. Serum folate, homocysteine and C-reactive protein and ESR were measured. Obtained data were analyzed with proper statistical methods and P- value less than 0.05 was considered as statistical significant. RESULTS: The level of serum folate was significantly reduced in IBD patients with active disease compared to patients with clinical remission (p=0.043) and also healthy controls (p=0.008). Moreover, there was a significant inverse correlation between serum folate levels and C-reactive protein in IBD patients (r=-0.563 p=0.001). Conclusion: Serum folate levels is associated with inflammatory markers and disease clinical activity in IBD patients, therefore there is a possibility that disease clinical activity is reduced with adequate folate level. (www.actabiomedica.it)