title: The role of vitamin D in gastrointestinal inflammation.
abstract: The emerging role of vitamin D as a regulator of both innate and adaptive immune responses has encouraged the investigation of its role in the pathogenesis of a variety of autoimmune conditions including the inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Animal models consistently demonstrate that vitamin D significantly impacts on the modulation of astrointestinal inflammation, while epidemiological and observational data show an inverse relationship between vitamin D status and the onset/progression of Crohn's disease as well as the development of colorectal cancer. As vitamin D supplementation is readily available, at low cost, it is a very attractive potential therapeutic option. The biological plausibility for a role for vitamin D in inflammation modulation, the potential genetic links associated with vitamin D metabolism and the clinical aspects for it in IBD will be discussed.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, Fremantle Hospital and School of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Western Australia, Level 5, T Block, Alma St, Fremanlte, Western Australia 6159, Australia.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ghaly
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lawrance
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; 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
keywords: immunoregulation; inflammation; inflammatory bowel disease; treatment; vitamin D