How vitamin D rebalances gut immunity in IBD |
Most inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) treatments, such as steroids, immunosuppressants, and biologics, work by reducing inflammation. A new study suggests vitamin D may go beyond this by retraining the immune system to tolerate gut bacteria instead of attacking them.
Researchers gave weekly vitamin D doses to 48 adults with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis who were also vitamin D deficient. After 12 weeks, participants showed lower disease activity scores, reduced stool-based markers of inflammation, and a notable shift in two key immune proteins.
“The study suggests that vitamin D supplementation may have a role as a beneficial adjunct to current advanced therapy,” said Steven Cohn, MD, PhD, chief of gastroenterology at the University of Texas Medical Branch.
But not everyone reads the results so optimistically. Cristiano Pagnini, MD, PhD, a gastroenterologist at San Giovanni Addolorata Hospital in Rome, warns that the observed biological signals don’t yet translate into clear clinical benefit. “There is a risk that mechanistic insights may be overinterpreted when applied to patient care,” he cautioned.
For more on this latest research into vitamin D and IBD, jump to “12 weeks of vitamin D helps ‘reset’ immune system in people with IBD.”
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