The nutritional status of patients with inflammatory bowel disease is considered
less than ideal. This study aimed to compare the salivary levels of some trace
elements (Zinc, copper, and magnesium) in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) on
two different therapeutic modalities to control subjects. Materials and methods:
This cross-sectional study was performed in 2021-2022 on 53 diagnosed UC patients (27 UC patients on oral immunosuppressant therapy and 26 UC patients on
combination therapy). All subjects were randomly selected from gastroenterology
and Hepatology teaching hospitals in Baghdad city; twenty-five subjects were also
recruited as controls. Demographic data were recorded through a checklist. Salivary levels of zinc (Zn), copper (Cu) and magnesium (Mg) were measured by
atomic absorption spectroscopy. Data were analyzed using SPSS-28 at a significance level of 0.05. The results: Salivary Zn mean was significantly lower in
monotherapy and combination therapy patients than in controls (p<0.001). Mean
salivary Cu levels were significantly higher in monotherapy and combination
therapy patients than in controls (p<0.001). Similarly, the salivary Mg mean was
significantly lower in both groups of ulcerative colitis patients than in controls
(p<0.001). The mean of salivary Cu was higher in UC patients, while the men of
Zn and Mg were lower in UC patients compared to controls. Conclusions: The
results showed that UC patients have significantly lower Zn and Mg levels than
healthy individuals and were lower inpatient on monotherapy than in combination.
At the same time, salivary Cu in UC patients was higher than in control individuals
and was higher in UC patients on monotherapy.
Keywords: Inflammatory bowel diseases, Ulcerative colitis, Trace elements