Ulcerative Colitis inflammation treated by weekly vitamin D (40,000 IU)

The Effect of Vitamin D on Intestinal Inflammation and Faecal Microbiota in Patients with Ulcerative Colitis.

J Crohns Colitis. 2018 Jul 30;12(8):963-972. doi: 10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjy052.

Garg M1,2,3, Hendy P3, Ding JN3,4, Shaw S5, Hold G5,6, Hart A3,7.

Overview Gut and vitamin D has the following summary{include}Overview Gut and vitamin D contains gut-friendly information{include} 1. Gut category listing contains the following{include}--- 1. # Items in both categories Gut intervention- non-daily are listed here:{category}Types of UC

BACKGROUND AND AIMS:

Vitamin D may be immunomodulatory and alter faecal microbiota, but results from clinical studies in humans to date have been inconclusive. This study aimed to assess the effect of vitamin D replacement in vitamin D-deficient patients with and without ulcerative colitis [UC] on inflammation and faecal microbiota.

METHODS:

Vitamin D was replaced over 8 weeks in patients with active UC [defined by faecal calprotectin ≥ 100 µg/g], inactive UC [faecal calprotectin < 100 µg/g] and non-inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] controls with baseline serum 25[OH] vitamin D <50 nmol/l, and markers of inflammation and faecal microbiota were analysed.

RESULTS:

Eight patients with active UC, nine with inactive UC and eight non-IBD controls received 40000 units cholecalciferol weekly for 8 weeks. Mean baseline 25[OH] vitamin D increased from 34 [range 12-49] to 111 [71-158] nmol/l [p < 0.001], with no difference across the groups [p = 0.32]. In patients with active UC, faecal calprotectin levels decreased from a median 275 to 111 µg/g [p = 0.02], platelet count decreased [mean 375 to 313 × 109/l, p = 0.03] and albumin increased [mean 43 to 45 g/l, p = 0.04]. These parameters did not change in patients with inactive UC or non-IBD controls. No changes in overall faecal bacterial diversity were noted although a significant increase in Enterobacteriaceae abundance was observed in patients with UC [p = 0.03].

CONCLUSIONS:

Vitamin D supplementation was associated with reduced intestinal inflammation in patients with active UC, with a concomitant increase in Enterobacteriaceae but no change in overall faecal microbial diversity.