HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Vitamin D and Crohn's

Support Forums
>
Crohn's Disease
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 1/18/2008 4:09 PM (GMT 0)
I found this info. regarding Vitamin D and Crohn's/Colitis. I had never heard that there was any connection.

<<<Recent research with mice at Penn State has demonstrated a connection between vitamin D deficiency and two bowel diseases that occur in one out of every 1,000 people in North America and Europe, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Treatment with Vitamin D for as little as two weeks lessened the symptoms of these inflammatory bowel diseases in mice.  (This was discussed in a recent Nutrient News article here. >>>

Heres the link: http://www.vitaminexpress.com/article.php/content/vitamin_d.php

Posted 1/18/2008 4:24 PM (GMT 0)
I knew that there was research going into the role of vitamin D and Crohn's, but didn't know about the Penn State study. Thanks.

To test for vitamin D deficiency, a blood test needs to be done to check the level of vitamin D 25-hydroxy. (And NOT vitamin D 1,25).

The latest recommendation from the famous Dr. Weil is that everybody should take 1,000IU daily of vitamin D (D3 is best, not D2).

My daughter finds that the only way she can keep her vitamin D from falling is by taking at least 1,800IU daily. 

In latitudes from Boston northward, between the months of November and February, most people cannot get enough vitamin D from the sun.

Posted 1/18/2008 4:53 PM (GMT 0)
Dr. Mehmet Oz was on Oprah in the fall and he said to be sure you're taking D3 (cholecalciferol), not D2. He added that you are not getting the correct D in most dairy, as it is supplemented with D2. He himself takes D3 and I *think* he said he takes 1500 IUs a day.

He classifies it as an antioxidant and says right now we can take up to 2000 IUs--unless you're out in the sun, then you cut back. I seem to remember him saying he expects that dosage to go up in the future as we begin to understand vit. D3 better. Also, he used Atlanta as a latitudinal line. Anyone north of there needs to supplement in the winter months. He also pointed out that it does no good to go outside for sunshine D3 if you're all covered up (because it's COLD out!! Burrrrrr!). Face and arms, at the very least, should be exposed. Today that would mean frostbite here!!!

Thanks for posting that, 73monte!
Posted 1/18/2008 7:58 PM (GMT 0)
MY Vitamin D dropped off the charts, dairy I can not do :) As well as iron, b-12 and one I forget right now...

anyway, taking vitamin d pills every week, still waiting for it to help , was told though it would take a couple months before If elt the difference.

Not quite the same as vitamin d helping relive the pain, but thought I would add my D was effected and perhaps the pills will reverse the muscle pain and help with the other "chronic pain"
Posted 1/18/2008 8:02 PM (GMT 0)
Vit D seems to be the "new black," as it is being advised by all the docs for menopause, bone loss, digestion, etc etc..I am getting some today!
Posted 1/19/2008 3:25 AM (GMT 0)
Before you start to supplement with Vitamin D, try to do some research about the differences between D2 and D3. From what I understand D3 is a much more potent form of Vitamin D, and is more closely related to the the D we would get form the sun. I'm pretty vague on all of that though, surf the net and see what you come up with, or ask your Doctor. 
Posted 1/22/2008 5:10 AM (GMT 0)
I know I usually feel better when it is warm and I am working outdoors in the sun. Is it because the body makes its own vitamin D from the sun? Was it a coincidence that I got sick with this disease in February?? Now, some studies say that the sunscreen can cause cancer and the sun prevents it. Makes sense that something that has been around longer than mankind and nourishes life on earth may be better for us than using sunscreen.
Posted 1/22/2008 5:29 AM (GMT 0)
The mention of lack of Vitamin D and diseases was mentioned here a while back...living in Canada sure doesn't help with the loooooooong winters we get that's for sure.

:)
Posted 1/22/2008 2:14 PM (GMT 0)
my GP tested my vitamin D levels this past summer because I have IBD & a sun sensitivity from a cardio med that I take.she also told me that lack of vit. D can cause alot of unexplained aches & pains.

thanks for sharing!
I sure do learn alot more useful info from this message board then all of my specialist docs put together...hehe ;)
Posted 1/22/2008 3:16 PM (GMT 0)
I just heard, too, that darker skinned people have less D as they absorb less sun.
Posted 1/22/2008 3:30 PM (GMT 0)
yogaprof, it may be too soon (I've lost track of time), but please let us know how the gluten-free diet is going after you've been on it a bit. Thanks!
Posted 1/22/2008 3:59 PM (GMT 0)
I've wondered if this ties in to the notion that IBD might be worse for flares in the winter. I've heard a lot of people saying that they feel better in the summer months. I don't notice a difference, but it seems like several people do. Vit D would help explain that. I also heard a little about calcitriol, and it being studied with psoriasis.
Posted 1/22/2008 4:25 PM (GMT 0)
"Dr. Mehmet Oz was on Oprah in the fall and he said to be sure you're taking D3 (cholecalciferol), not D2. He added that you are not getting the correct D in most dairy, as it is supplemented with D2. He himself takes D3 and I *think* he said he takes 1500 IUs a day".

Yes, I red that there will be a trial in Canada the coming years on 1000 IU a day for all participants. Vitamine D3 is preventing cancer, they think. I take 1000 IUs a day, but I am not afraid of taking even more. I use cod liver oil containing D3, Vitamin E and omega 3. I am sure a use a big bottle a month :)

I live "on the top of the world", not far from the North Pole, we have no sun during 2 wintermonths at all. The sun is below the horisont then. It's dark, but luckily we have the cod in the North See along the coast of our beautiful country. Cod liver oil may be the best for IBD, both the omega 3, vit D and E is helping IBD. So they say.


Another think, a bit off topic, but anyway:
I still use LDN, low dose naltrexone. I am in remission since the first week I started to take it. It's such a small pill, only 4.5 mg's. I have not used anything else since mid september 2007. No cramps, no pain, no vomiting, no obstruction episodes, no red eyes, no bloating, and NO DIARRHEA........And it helps a lot of Crohnies that's visiting the yahoo.com forum lowdosenaltrexone.

If some are interested in learning more: register with one new emailadress where all emails on ldn will stay, and just stay as a lurker. Noone knows you have registered, noone knows you're there, and of course, if you want to pop in to ask a question, you're welcome to do that.


Best wishes
Ingrid
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply