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World J Gastroenterol. May 7, 2014; 20(17): 4934-4947
Published online May 7, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i17.4934
Published online May 7, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i17.4934
Vitamin D improves inflammatory bowel disease outcomes: Basic science and clinical review
Krista M Reich, Richard N Fedorak, Karen Madsen, Karen I Kroeker, Division of Gastroenterology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2X8, Canada
Author contributions: Reich KM developed and wrote the manuscript; Fedorak RN, Madsen K and Kroeker KI contributed to the design and editing of the paper; all authors approve the final version for submission.
Supported by A graduate studentship from the Center of Excellence for Gastrointestinal and Immunity Research (CEGIIR) and the Alberta Innovates-Health Solutions Inflammatory Bowel Disease Consortium to Reich KM
Correspondence to: Karen I Kroeker, MD, FRCPC, Assistant Professor, Division of Gastroenterology, University of Alberta, 2-40 Zeidler Ledcor Centre, 130 University Campus, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2X8, Canada. karen.kroeker@ualberta.ca
Telephone: +1-780-2481433-3 Fax: +1-780-4928121
Received: September 27, 2013
Revised: November 13, 2013
Accepted: December 12, 2013
Published online: May 7, 2014
Processing time: 222 Days and 7.8 Hours
Revised: November 13, 2013
Accepted: December 12, 2013
Published online: May 7, 2014
Processing time: 222 Days and 7.8 Hours
Core Tip
Core tip: There is support for the importance of maintaining normal vitamin D levels in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients, demonstrated by its anti-inflammatory actions in the gut. A randomized controlled trial examined the impact of vitamin D supplementation on IBD outcomes and demonstrated a reduced risk of relapse in vitamin D-treated Crohn’s disease patients. Furthermore, vitamin D3 and active vitamin D have been shown to reduce clinical disease activity and improve quality of life in IBD patients. Normalization of vitamin D levels is also associated with a decreased risk for IBD-related surgery. This vitamin has therapeutic benefit in IBD patients.