Association of vitamin D and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio in treatment escalation risk for newly diagnosed Crohn’s disease adults

Abstract Background Accumulating research has implicated that vitamin D (VD) may be important in the pathogenesis of Crohn’s disease (CD), while the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) is emerging as a biomarker in immune disorders. However, the synergistic effect of VD and PLR on treatment escalatio...

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Main Authors: Kan Wang, Shichen Zhu, Lingya Yao, Qian Cao, Bule Shao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-03-01
Series:Nutrition Journal
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12937-025-01115-7
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author Kan Wang
Shichen Zhu
Lingya Yao
Qian Cao
Bule Shao
author_facet Kan Wang
Shichen Zhu
Lingya Yao
Qian Cao
Bule Shao
author_sort Kan Wang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Accumulating research has implicated that vitamin D (VD) may be important in the pathogenesis of Crohn’s disease (CD), while the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) is emerging as a biomarker in immune disorders. However, the synergistic effect of VD and PLR on treatment escalation in newly diagnosed CD patients remains unclear. Therefore, this study aims to assess the interaction between PLR and VD on the subsequent use of infliximab and/or immunosuppressants in patients with CD. Methods Newly diagnosed CD patients were selected from the Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital Inflammatory Bowel Disease Biobank (SRRSH-IBC). COX proportional hazards models were employed to assess the association between VD, PLR, and treatment escalation among CD patients. Results Among 108 newly diagnosed CD adult patients, vitamin D deficiency (VDD) was prevalent (78.7%). Compared to CD patients without VDD, those with VDD exhibited a higher risk of treatment escalation, i.e., using infliximab and/or immunosuppressants (HR = 3.22, 95% CI = 1.24–8.35, P = 0.016). There is a clear trend of decreasing risk of treatment escalation as VD levels elevating (HR = 0.26, 95% CI = 0.09–0.76, P for trend = 0.014). The stratified analysis revealed a noteworthy interaction between PLR and VD levels concerning treatment escalation. Baseline VDD amplified the risk of treatment escalation among patients with elevated PLR (HR = 4.17, 95% CI = 1.51–11.53, P interaction = 0.031). Similar trends were observed when VD levels were stratified into quartiles (highest quartile vs. lowest quartile: HR = 0.18, 95% CI = 0.05–0.62, P for trend = 0.014). Conclusion This study underscores a significant interplay between VD levels and PLR in influencing treatment outcomes in CD. VDD exacerbates the risk of treatment escalation primarily in individuals with heightened PLR levels, highlighting the combined impact of vitamin D status and inflammation on disease progression of CD.
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spelling doaj-art-59b18d45f4304d3fb0110035b47b0cdc2025-08-20T03:40:46ZengBMCNutrition Journal1475-28912025-03-012411910.1186/s12937-025-01115-7Association of vitamin D and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio in treatment escalation risk for newly diagnosed Crohn’s disease adultsKan Wang0Shichen Zhu1Lingya Yao2Qian Cao3Bule Shao4Department of Gastroenterology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of MedicineZhejiang University School of MedicineDepartment of Gastroenterology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of MedicineDepartment of Gastroenterology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of MedicineDepartment of Gastroenterology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of MedicineAbstract Background Accumulating research has implicated that vitamin D (VD) may be important in the pathogenesis of Crohn’s disease (CD), while the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) is emerging as a biomarker in immune disorders. However, the synergistic effect of VD and PLR on treatment escalation in newly diagnosed CD patients remains unclear. Therefore, this study aims to assess the interaction between PLR and VD on the subsequent use of infliximab and/or immunosuppressants in patients with CD. Methods Newly diagnosed CD patients were selected from the Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital Inflammatory Bowel Disease Biobank (SRRSH-IBC). COX proportional hazards models were employed to assess the association between VD, PLR, and treatment escalation among CD patients. Results Among 108 newly diagnosed CD adult patients, vitamin D deficiency (VDD) was prevalent (78.7%). Compared to CD patients without VDD, those with VDD exhibited a higher risk of treatment escalation, i.e., using infliximab and/or immunosuppressants (HR = 3.22, 95% CI = 1.24–8.35, P = 0.016). There is a clear trend of decreasing risk of treatment escalation as VD levels elevating (HR = 0.26, 95% CI = 0.09–0.76, P for trend = 0.014). The stratified analysis revealed a noteworthy interaction between PLR and VD levels concerning treatment escalation. Baseline VDD amplified the risk of treatment escalation among patients with elevated PLR (HR = 4.17, 95% CI = 1.51–11.53, P interaction = 0.031). Similar trends were observed when VD levels were stratified into quartiles (highest quartile vs. lowest quartile: HR = 0.18, 95% CI = 0.05–0.62, P for trend = 0.014). Conclusion This study underscores a significant interplay between VD levels and PLR in influencing treatment outcomes in CD. VDD exacerbates the risk of treatment escalation primarily in individuals with heightened PLR levels, highlighting the combined impact of vitamin D status and inflammation on disease progression of CD.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12937-025-01115-7Vitamin D statusCrohn’s diseasePlatelet-to-lymphocyte ratioInterplayTreatment escalationInflammation biomarkers
spellingShingle Kan Wang
Shichen Zhu
Lingya Yao
Qian Cao
Bule Shao
Association of vitamin D and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio in treatment escalation risk for newly diagnosed Crohn’s disease adults
Nutrition Journal
Vitamin D status
Crohn’s disease
Platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio
Interplay
Treatment escalation
Inflammation biomarkers
title Association of vitamin D and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio in treatment escalation risk for newly diagnosed Crohn’s disease adults
title_full Association of vitamin D and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio in treatment escalation risk for newly diagnosed Crohn’s disease adults
title_fullStr Association of vitamin D and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio in treatment escalation risk for newly diagnosed Crohn’s disease adults
title_full_unstemmed Association of vitamin D and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio in treatment escalation risk for newly diagnosed Crohn’s disease adults
title_short Association of vitamin D and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio in treatment escalation risk for newly diagnosed Crohn’s disease adults
title_sort association of vitamin d and platelet to lymphocyte ratio in treatment escalation risk for newly diagnosed crohn s disease adults
topic Vitamin D status
Crohn’s disease
Platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio
Interplay
Treatment escalation
Inflammation biomarkers
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12937-025-01115-7
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