Written by Greg Arnold, DC, CSCS. In a study in children with Inflammatory Bowel Disease, 34.6% of the patients were deficient in vitamin D.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease is a condition that affects 1.4 million Americans (30% of which are children) and costs $2 billion each year to treat. The condition is a “serious inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract” that puts those afflicted at high risk for developing colorectal cancer. While IBD can harm the quality of life in adults, it takes a much greater toll in children by delaying puberty, impairing growth and “even prevent[ing] them from reaching their full genetic growth potential”. (1)
A recent (2) study suggests that vitamin D may also help children with Inflammatory Bowel Disease, since more than 1 in 3 IBD sufferers may have a vitamin D deficiency. In the study, 130 patients aged 8–22 years with inflammatory bowel disease, (94 with Crohn disease and 36 with ulcerative colitis) had their blood measured for vitamin D levels as well as parathyroid hormone. Their lumbar spine bone mineral density was also measured.
The researchers found 34.6% of the patients had blood levels that were deficient in vitamin D. The average blood vitamin D levels were similar between patients with Crohn disease or ulcerative colitis. What’s more, blood vitamin D levels were 52.6% lower among patients with dark skin complexion, 33.4% lower during the winter months (December 22 to March 21) and 31.5% higher among patients who were taking vitamin D supplements. Blood levels of vitamin D were not, however, related to lumbar spine bone mineral density.
For the researchers, “Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent among pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease” and that “factors predisposing to the problem include having a dark-skin complexion, winter season, lack of vitamin D supplementation, early…and upper gastrointestinal tract involvement in patients with Crohn disease.”
The current recommended intake for vitamin D is 200 IU per day for patients up to 50 years of age, but increases to 400 IU per day for patients up to 70 years and 600 IU per day for patients 71 and older. (3)
Source: Pappa, Helen M., Catherine M. Gordon, Tracee M. Saslowsky, Anna Zholudev, Brian Horr, Mei-Chiung Shih, and Richard J. Grand. “Vitamin D status in children and young adults with inflammatory bowel disease.” Pediatrics 118, no. 5 (2006): 1950-1961.
© 2006 by the American Academy of Pediatrics
Posted January 13, 2009.
References:
- “IBD Research Bill” posted on the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America Website.
- Pappa HM. Vitamin D Status in Children and Young Adults With Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Pediatrics 2006; 118: 1950-1961.
- “Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Vitamin D” posted on the Office of Dietary Supplements Website.
