Vitamin D supplements may battle Crohn's disease
Added 17.02.2010
Sixty thousand people in the UK suffer from Crohn's
Crohn's disease is an inflammatory bowel disease characterised by inflammation of the digestive tract lining. Typical symptoms include diarrhoea, abdominal pain, ulcers and malnutrition. It is often debilitating and can result in life-threatening complications.Many scientists agree that a combination of two factors cause Crohn's disease. The first is a malfunctioning immune system. In people with Crohn's disease, the immune system erroneously thinks the good bacteria in the intestines are invading microbes and attacks them, which leads to inflammation and symptoms of the disease. Genetics is a second factor that seems to play a role in the disease, specifically hereditary defects or mutations in beta defensin2 and NOD2 genes. These genes are important for warning the body of invading microbes and producing antimicrobial proteins to counteract them. In people with Crohn's disease, these defected genes are often switched off.
Vitamin D switches beta defensin2 and NOD2 genes on
We know from previous studies that vitamin D protects us against viral and fungal infections. We also know that vitamin D is a potent immune system modulator and has the ability to suppress an overreaction in the immune system and even has anti-inflammatory effects. In a new study, vitamin D was found to fight Crohn's disease by switching on the defective beta defensin2 and NOD2 genes, which are vital for alerting the body of invading microbes and fighting them by producing antimicrobial proteins.Because most people with Crohn's disease are deficient in vitamin D and because the condition tends to be hereditary, researchers recommend people with a family history of Crohn's disease to ensure they are getting enough vitamin D. What is considered enough? Many scientists recommend at least 2,000 IU per day of the biologically active form, vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol).
References:
Mayo Clinic
Dr. Bo Nielsen's comments:
Crohn's disease, also called morbus Crohn, is a very unpleasant chronic disease and unfortunately there is no known pharmaceutical or surgical cure for this disease. Crohn's disease may lead to complications like fistulae, obstruction and abscesses. People suffering from this disease may even have a significantly higher risk of developing cancer in the inflamed area. Another important complication is increased risk of malnutrition due to malabsorption in the inflamed endothelium. Malabsorption worsens the condition because important nutrients needed to heal the inflammation can't be absorbed in suffcient amounts, leading to a vicious circle. The natural consequence, which in many cases has worked for me is to supplement with high dose vitamin D3 combined with all the basic vitamins and minerals in effective dosages as well as probiotics.
