Neutron activation analysis efficiently measures the concentration of trace elements in endoscopic biopsies from the normal and inflamed human colon.

Trace element metabolism is altered in inflammatory bowel disease, but the concentrations of trace elements in the intestinal mucosa have not yet been investigated. We evaluated the trace element profile in human colon and the influence of mucosal inflammation. During colonoscopy, biopsies were taken from the colon of 23 ulcerative colitis patients, 15 of whom had active disease and seven control patients. Zinc, iron, and selenium were successfully assayed by neutron activation analysis in as much tissue as was contained in three perendoscopic colonic biopsies. Patients with ulcerative colitis had significantly lower zinc and selenium tissue concentrations and higher iron concentrations than control patients. Zinc and iron concentrations were even altered more in the presence of active disease. Ulcerative colitis is associated with an impaired metabolism of trace elements, even at the mucosal level