Vitamin D and Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic intestinal inflammation that occurs because of uncontrolled immune responses to commensal microflora in the gut and is estimated to affect over 1 million Americans. The factors that predispose individuals are not completely understood. Both genetics and environmental factors play a role in the development of IBD. IBD is more prevalent in northern than southern regions of North America and Europe. Vitamin D is an important regulator of the immune system; patients with IBD are frequently vitamin D deficient and vitamin D-deficient animals have increased susceptibility to IBD. The autoimmune response in IBD is suppressed by active metabolites of vitamin D. There is no cure for IBD. Immunosuppressive drugs are used to suppress the intestinal inflammation in patients with IBD, but these drugs are extremely expensive and increase the risk of infection and cancer. Vitamin D supplementation could be a safe and effective adjunct to the therapies available to treat or prevent IBD.