A new study has found that people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, tend to have lower levels of vitamin D in their blood—and that this might be linked to higher levels of inflammation in the body.
The research was led by Dr. Antonia Topalova-Dimitrova and her team from the University Hospital St. Ivan Rilski and the Medical University in Sofia, Bulgaria. Their study, recently published in the journal Medicine, looked at whether vitamin D levels were lower in people with IBD and whether those lower levels were connected to more inflammation.
To find out, the researchers studied 92 people with IBD and compared them to 14 healthy individuals. The results showed a clear difference: people with IBD had much lower levels of vitamin D.
On average, IBD patients had vitamin D levels of just 16 ng/mL, while the healthy participants averaged 26 ng/mL. Most of the IBD patients either had a deficiency or levels that were too low to be considered healthy. In contrast, a larger portion of the healthy group had normal vitamin D levels.
The researchers also looked at signs of inflammation in the IBD patients, such as high white blood cell counts and levels of a protein called CRP-C, which increases when there is inflammation in the body.
They found that people with lower vitamin D levels often had higher levels of these inflammation markers. This suggests that lower vitamin D might be linked to worse inflammation in people with IBD.
It’s important to understand that this study found a connection, not proof that low vitamin D causes more inflammation. More research is needed to figure out if increasing vitamin D can actually reduce inflammation or improve IBD symptoms.
Still, the findings are valuable, as they add to a growing body of research suggesting that vitamin D might play a role in how severe IBD can get.
Other studies have already shown that low vitamin D in people with IBD may lead to more frequent disease flare-ups, a slower response to treatment, and a higher chance of needing surgery. Because of this, checking and managing vitamin D levels might be a helpful part of treating IBD.
There are a few ways to boost vitamin D levels. People can get it through certain foods like fatty fish, egg yolks, and fortified milk, or by spending time in the sun. However, for people with IBD, sunlight exposure might not always be practical, especially during flare-ups or for those with sensitive skin. That’s why vitamin D supplements are often recommended.
This study also supports the broader idea that nutrition plays a key role in health. For example, other research has found that the Mediterranean diet may help protect the brain, that olive oil may increase lifespan, and that taking vitamins at the right time could reduce the risk of heart disease. Vitamin D itself has also been linked to a lower risk of autoimmune diseases.
While more studies are needed to understand exactly how vitamin D affects IBD, these findings suggest that keeping an eye on vitamin D levels—and correcting any deficiency—could help people with IBD manage their condition better. It’s a simple step that could support overall treatment and improve quality of life for those living with this challenging disease.
If you care about health, please read studies about the benefits of low-dose lithium supplements, and what we know about egg intake and heart disease.
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