The Role of Vitamin D in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Mechanism to Management.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to explore the link between vitamin D and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including its potential benefits in managing IBD severity and onset.
Results Summary
The study found that vitamin D deficiency is prevalent in IBD patients, particularly during low UV exposure seasons, and pre-clinical studies suggest vitamin D may regulate gut microbiota and promote anti-inflammatory immune responses. However, the benefits of supplementation for IBD patients remain unclear.
Population
Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
vitamin D | increase | human health benefits | human | - | has been linked to human health benefits that extend far beyond its established actions | #1 |
vitamin D | decrease | inflammation | - | - | potent anti-inflammatory effects | #2 |
vitamin D deficiency | increase | inflammatory diseases including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) | - | - | has been associated with | #3 |
- | increase | Low serum levels of the major circulating form of vitamin D, 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH-D) | patients with IBD | - | are significantly more prevalent | #4 |
Dietary malabsorption of vitamin D | increase | low serum 25(OH)D | IBD | - | may also contribute to | #5 |
supplementation with vitamin D | no change | benefits | IBD patients | - | benefits are still unclear | #6 |
improved vitamin D status | decrease | onset of IBD and disease severity | - | - | may help to prevent the onset of IBD as well as ameliorating disease severity | #7 |
the active form of vitamin D, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25-(OH)2D) | increase | gastrointestinal microbiota function and immune responses | mouse models | - | has been shown to regulate gastrointestinal microbiota function, and promote anti-inflammatory, tolerogenic immune responses | #8 |
vitamin D supplementation | increase | managing IBD | humans | - | possible beneficial effects | #9 |
Vitamin D has been linked to human health benefits that extend far beyond its established actions on calcium homeostasis and bone metabolism. One of the most well studied facets of extra-skeletal vitamin D is its activity as an immuno-modulator, in particular its potent anti-inflammatory effects. As a consequence, vitamin D deficiency has been associated with inflammatory diseases including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Low serum levels of the major circulating form of vitamin D, 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH-D) are significantly more prevalent in patients with IBD, particularly in the winter and spring months when UV-induced synthesis of vitamin D is lower. Dietary malabsorption of vitamin D may also contribute to low serum 25(OH)D in IBD. The benefits of supplementation with vitamin D for IBD patients are still unclear, and improved vitamin D status may help to prevent the onset of IBD as well as ameliorating disease severity. Beneficial effects of vitamin D in IBD are supported by pre-clinical studies, notably with mouse models, where the active form of vitamin D, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25-(OH)2D) has been shown to regulate gastrointestinal microbiota function, and promote anti-inflammatory, tolerogenic immune responses. The current narrative review aims to summarise the different strands of data linking vitamin D and IBD, whilst also outlining the possible beneficial effects of vitamin D supplementation in managing IBD in humans.