Effect of Vıtamın B12 on Acetic Acıd Induced Colıtıs 

Abstract Background/Aims: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic, relapsing, and remittent inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract. Nutritional deficiency may be instrumental and contributable in this disease, among which vitamin B12 deficiency has been identified in IBD. Since the relationship between vitamin B12 and IBD remains controversial, in this study, we have examined the effect of vitamin B12 supplementation on acetic acid (AA)-induced colitis in rats. Methods Total of 28 rats were randomized into four groups of seven animals per group; Group 1 (Control saline) was the control group, group 2 (AA colitis control) was the disease control group, group 3 (VitB12) was the vitamin B12 alone treatment group, group 4 (VitB12 treatment in AA colitis) was the AA-induced colitis VitB12 treatment group. Weight change was measured. Macroscopic and microscopic scores were measured in each group. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, myeloperoxidase (MPO), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione reduced (GSH), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured in each group. Results Macroscopic scores, as well as microscopic scores, were not different between the group. Also, the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, MPO, MDA, and SOD did not differ between AA control and VitB12 treated AA colitic group. However, the levels of IL-6 and GSH were significantly different in rats with AA-induced colitis after vitamin B12 injection. Conclusion Nutritional deficiencies might contribute to the pathogenesis of IBD, but in this study, the efficacy of vitamin B12 supplementation has controversial effects on the intestinal mucosa.