The Copper/Zinc Ratio Correlates With Markers of Disease Activity in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Abstract

Background Zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) are trace elements that serve as cofactors in catalytic processes with impact on immune responses. In patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), decreased levels of serum Zn and Cu have been observed. Here, we investigated the effect of inflammation on serum concentrations of these trace elements in patients with IBD. Methods In this cross-sectional study, 98 patients with Crohn disease (CD) and 56 with ulcerative colitis (UC) were prospectively enrolled. Disease activity parameters, such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and fecal calprotectin (FC) were compared to serum Zn, Cu, and Cu/Zn ratio. Results Zinc insufficiency was observed in 11.2% of patients with CD and 14.3% with UC, Cu insufficiency in 20.4% with CD and 7.1% with UC. Anemia, hypoalbuminemia, increased FC, and elevated CRP were more frequently present in Zn-insufficient patients with IBD. In contrast, lower serum CRP values and a trend to lower FC were observed in Cu-insufficient patients. In multiple linear regression models adjusted for age, gender, and serum albumin, CRP positively correlated with serum Cu (P < 0.001) and the Cu/Zn ratio in both CD and UC (P < 0.001) but not with serum Zn concentrations. FC levels correlated only with the Cu/Zn ratio in patients with UC (P < 0.038). Conclusion Systemic inflammation inversely affected the serum Zn and Cu concentrations and, consequently, resulted in an increased Cu/Zn ratio.

Copper and Copper/Zn Ratio in a Series of Children with Chronic Diseases: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Bui et al found that CRP was associated with serum ferritin and Cu concentrations in apparently healthy school children [54]. Schneider showed that, in patients with Crohn disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), CRP was positively correlated with serum Cu and the Cu/Zn ratio in both CD and UC [98]. Our results indicated that, in this series of children and adolescents with chronic disease, the serum Cu and Cu/Zn ratio showed a stronger and more significant association with ESR than with CRP.…”

The Metallome as a Link Between the “Omes” in Autism Spectrum Disorders

“…Zinc concentrations are typically decreased from 15 to 40% in affected individuals. Conversely, copper concentrations are increased in these individuals ( Schneider et al, 2020 ). This observation is in line with many studies, including research on ASD, that show that zinc and copper interact at the mucosal level and in the blood, where the ratios are inversely related ( Li et al, 2014 ).…”

Serum levels of selected micronutrients in patients with inflammatory bowel disease in clinical remission

“…Systemic inflammation has the opposite effect on serum Zn and Cu concentrations, resulting in an increased Cu-to-Zn ratio [47]. In contrast to Zn, Cu concentrations increase during the acute-phase response [48].…”