Influence of inflammation on serum retinol levels in gastroenterological surgical patients.

Abstract

Serum retinol (R) is the most reliable marker to evaluate vitamin A nutritional status. It is accepted that inflammation result in a serum level decrease that may conduce to a deficiency that current knowledge does not even define as functional or as apparent. In order to evaluate the influence of inflammation on R levels in surgical patients with no infection, 45 patients from programmed gastroenterological surgeries were studied. R was determined by HPLC and C‐Reactive Protein (CRP) by commercial kits as a marker of inflammation (CRP positive when >0.6 mg/dl; I+) in fasting samples taken before surgical procedure. Patients with no inflammation (I−; n=28) presented a X±SD of 49.5±19.1 μg/dl; distribution of values showed none patient with values <20 μg/dl indicatives of deficiency, 7% of values <30, considered sub‐optimal, and 3.5% of values <25, founded as associated with increased risk of complications in a previous work. Patients with inflammation (I+; n=17) presented a X±SD of 35.6±16.1μg/dl, significantly lower than that of I− (P=0.0162); 18% of values were <20, 53% <30 and 23% <25μg/dl. We conclude that chronic inflammation with no infection expose the patient to a higher chance of deficiency, that if traduced in low utilization by peripheral tissues, may compromise evolution by increasing the risk of complications. Supported by UBACyT B077.