title: Management of inflammatory bowel disease with vitamin D: beyond bone health.
abstract: A relationship between vitamin D and several disorders, including Crohn's disease (CD), has recently been proposed. Vitamin D appears to have several important actions beyond the maintenance of bone health, including various effects on the immune system. Vitamin D deficiency has been implicated in the development of CD, and its analogues may have a role in the treatment of CD. Current research also suggests a role for vitamin D in counteracting some IBD-specific complications, including osteopenia, colorectal neoplasia, and depression. There remains a need for prospective studies to further delineate these relationships. Given current evidence and the apparent safety of vitamin D supplementation, it appears reasonable to screen for and treat vitamin D deficiency in patients with IBD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine (Division of Gastroenterology) and Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Neeraj
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Narula
authors.forename: John K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Marshall
mesh_terms: D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D014815:Vitamins / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D014815:Vitamins; D014807:Vitamin D