Background and objectives: The anemia is the most common extra-intestinal manifestation of the ulcerative colitis. Taking into account, that meat products are perceived as factor, that may promote relapses, the crucial is to indicate the dietary recommendations to prevent anemia development but without high animal products intake. Aim of the study was to analyze the influence of animal products intake on the red blood cell count results in remission ulcerative colitis individuals and pair-matched control group, during 6 weeks of observation. Materials and Methods: The intake of nutrients associated with anemia development (iron, vitamin B12, protein, animal protein, calcium) and the products being their sources (meat, meat products, dairy beverages, cottage cheese, rennet cheese) were analyzed. Results: In spite of the higher meat products intake in the group of ulcerative colitis individuals, the iron intake did not differ between groups. The positive correlations between intakes of meat, meat products, total protein, animal protein, iron, vitamin B12 and red blood cell count results were stated for ulcerative colitis individuals, while in control group were not observed, that may have resulted from higher susceptibility for the diet-influenced changes. Conclusions: The positive correlation between red blood cell count results and energy value of diet, and daily iron intake observed in ulcerative colitis individuals, accompanied by negative correlation for iron intake per 1000 kcal of diet, may indicate, that higher iron intake may be beneficial, but only while accompanied by high energy value of diet.
Keywords: anemia; case-control study; energy; iron; meat; ulcerative colitis.