Vitamin D for Crohn’s Treatment and Prevention

A readily available, over the counter Vitamin D supplement may not only help counter the effects of Crohn’s disease, but it may also prevent its onset altogether.

Vitamin D, found in supplements, sunlight, and cod liver oil, was found by researchers to negate the effects of inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease.  Specifically, they noted that a Vitamin D deficiency can absolutely contribute to the development of Crohn’s disease.  The researchers based their hypothesis on the fact that people from northern countries, which receive less sunlight than what is necessary for the production of Vitamin D by the human body, are particularly vulnerable to Crohn’s disease.

It appears from the research that Vitamin D acts directly with a particular gene, which encodes an antimicrobial peptide, and another gene that warns cells of invading microbes.  Both of these genes play significant roles in the development of Crohn’s disease because if the genes are deficient or defective they cannot combat invaders to the intestinal tract.  A Vitamin D deficiency can cause problems with these genes, resulting in poor handling of the intestinal bacteria leading to an inflammatory response that could develop into an autoimmune disorder, such as Crohn’s.

This discovery is especially important and exciting because of the genetic make-up that runs in families.  For instance, if a sibling of a Crohn’s sufferer does not yet have the disease, he could get examined for a Vitamin D deficiency.  If a deficiency is found, the sibling could simply purchase a Vitamin D supplement and begin on treatment, hopefully staving off the disease.  The over the counter supplement could be the key to preventing the disease and be a viable treatment option for those already dealing with the condition.

As with any treatment option, even if it is over the counter, you should discuss the possibility with your doctor.  People with Crohn’s disease have few treatment options available and many medications and therapies interfere with their daily tasks, such as working, driving, cooking, and engaging in hobbies.  The disease itself is debilitating, which can only be compounded by various drug combinations.  Taking a supplement, such as Vitamin D, is painless, with few, if any, side effects, and according to this new data, effective for treating Crohn’s.  Supplements can be purchased at any pharmacy and do not require a prescription.  You can also get dosages of Vitamin D from natural sunlight, which is perhaps the best source.