Protein and Magnesium in Ulcerative Colitis (PAMUC)

Nutritional Therapy for Patients With Acute Severe Ulcerative Colitis (ASUC) Treated With High-dose Steroids - a Special Focus on Protein and Magnesium.

The aim of the study is to improve the quality of nutritional therapy for patients admitted with Acute Severe Ulcerative Colitis (ASUC) treated with high-dose steroids. This study consists of two randomized interventions and one observational part regarding protein, magnesium, and metabolic stress. First an interventional part aims to explore the effect of a high-protein diet during and after admission on different parameters regarding protein turnover.Second the study aims to explore the degree of magnesium depletion in ASUC. In case of magnesium depletion, the study aims to investigate whether oral magnesium supplementation can regain body stores of magnesium. Last the study aims to observe the degree of metabolic stress, including, the degree of insulin resistance, in ASUC during admission and under treatment with high-dose steroids compared to three weeks after discharge.

Patients with Acute Severe Ulcerative Colitis (ASUC) may have an altered protein turnover due to inflammation, reduced dietary intake and/or accelerated protein loss. Despite this the level of dietary protein needed to maintain nitrogen balance has never been described in patients with ASUC. Clinical symptoms of ASUC include frequent and bloody diarrhea which alone or simultaneous with a risk of reduced dietary intake and weightloss can lead to magnesium depletion. Magnesium depletion can cause severe symptoms including cardiac arrhythmia and neuromuscular dysfunction which might worsen the disease further. The prevalence of magnesium depletion in ASUC has never been described and furthermore it is not known whether oral supplementation are able to reverse the condition in patients with ASUC.

Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, Colitis, Ulcerative, Magnesium Deficiency, Nutritional Deficiency, Protein Deficiency

At baseline patients are randomized to either a dietary protein intake of 2 g/kg/day (achieved by nutritional counseling and protein supplementations) or standard care (No nutritional counseling or protein recommendation are given) under admission and three weeks after discharge. Furthermore patients with a magnesium retention level >25% are further randomized to receive either magnesium acetate oral mixture (0,5 mmol/ml) 20 ml x 3 daily (30 mmol/day) or not receiving magnesium supplement for three weeks.

Patients with a magnesium retention test >25% and randomized to intervention receive magnesium acetate oral mixture (30 mmol/ml) 20 ml x 3/day for a period of three weeks.

Nutritional counseling and protein supplementation to establish an intake of 2 g protein kg/day during admission and three weeks after discharge.

Change in QOL-score patient administered QOL-scoring system - The short bowel inflammatory bowel disease questionaire (SIBDQ) between follow-up 1 (day 5) and after three weeks.

Change in QOL-score patient administered QOL-scoring system - Hjortswang index between follow-up 1 (day 5) and after three weeks.

Change in FFM (kg) between baseline and after four weeks. Measured after minimum 6 hours of fasting by Bioimpedance spectroscopy.

Change in REE between baseline and after four weeks. Measured after minimum 6 hours of fasting by indirect calorimetry.

Change in body between baseline and after four weeks. Measured after minimum 6 hours of fasting by Bioimpedance spectroscopy.

Change in fasting blood glucose (mmol/l) after a minimum of 6 hours fasting between baseline and week 4

Assessment of dietary protein intake during admission and after discharge by patient dietary registration schedules and supplemented by 24-h recall during admission.

Assessment of dietary intake during admission and after discharge by patient dietary registration schedules and supplemented by 24-h recall during admission.

Patients are asked about habitual physical activity level (hours/week) in the period before admission and physical activity level within 3 weeks after discharge.

Inclusion Criteria: Age 18 years or older Cognizant Must speak or read Danish or participate in relevant communication in interpreting or translating the study material. Diagnosed with Acute Severe Ulcerative Colitis (ASUC) (documented in the patient journal) Admitted at "Lever-, Mave-, og Tarmsygdomme/ LMT" at Aarhus University Hospital and in medical treatment with high-dose intravenous steroid (Solumedrol 40 mg x 2 daily) Exclusion Criteria: Pregnant and/or lactating women Plasma creatinine > 200 µmol/L (protein intervention only) Patients receiving tube- or parenteral feeding (protein intervention only) Receiving any kind of magnesium supplementation 6 months prior to inclusion (magnesium intervention only) Diagnosed with Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (observational part only)