12 weeks of vitamin D helps 'reset' immune system in people with IBD

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a condition that “triggers the body’s immune system to mistakenly attack healthy bowel cells,” leading to symptoms such as persistent fatigue, abdominal pain, chronic diarrhea, and unexplained weight loss, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . IBD includes the subtypes of ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, and people with IBD can experience flare-ups of such symptoms intermittently.

A recent study published in Cell Reports Medicine examined how vitamin D supplementation may affect people with IBD, and found that increasing vitamin D levels may help the body’s immune system tolerate gut bacteria. This study involved 48 adult participants who either had ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease and also had low vitamin D levels.

Researchers collected blood and stool samples from participants at baseline and then again at the end of twelve weeks. Over these 12 weeks, participants received weekly doses of vitamin D.

Researchers evaluated a number of components, including disease activity, quality of life, and C-reactive protein in blood and stool samples. C-reactive protein can help with measuring inflammation in the body.