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Vit D supplementation reduces fecal calprotectin and may alter microbiota composition in UC

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Posted 9/7/2017 1:54 AM (GMT 0)
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/store/10.1111/jgh.13894/asset/jgh13894.pdf?v=1&t=j79qkd05&s=f3e877f47465ff478a6be23a43b1adf4e7d940f1

Perhaps another reason to add/try Vitamin D if you currently have active UC:

If you scroll down to page two there is a short abstract and conclusion on the second page.

"Conclusions: Vitamin D supplementation was associated with reduced intestinal inflammation in patients with active UC, and a signal for alteration of gut microbiota composition was seen. A randomized controlled trial evaluating vitamin D in patients with IBD is required, along with further investigation of potential mechanisms by which vitamin D may alter specific microbial composition."

--------------

I'm pretty sure there is a ton of people taking it already anyway due all the publicity over the last few years but there's some other interesting stuff on the link as well - and some funny contradictory things within the group of studies in the link.

The H-pylori thing on page 1 was kind of interesting as well. First I have heard of anything like this:

"Conclusion: H. pylori infection modulates the composition and abundance of the gut microbiota, as well as the local and systemic immune responses in patients with IBD."

Post Edited (Canada Mark) : 9/6/2017 7:58:06 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 9/7/2017 11:11 AM (GMT 0)
I clicked the link and it says "forbidden"...I''l try a few more ways to access.

Vitamin D has been on my radar and as it tuns out I had been low on it for a long time. I wondered if this wasn't a catalyst for this most recent flare even....
Posted 9/7/2017 1:45 PM (GMT 0)
Says forbidden for me also, but I have taken 20,000 a day for extended periods, no effect that I could see.
Old Mike
Posted 9/7/2017 1:56 PM (GMT 0)
I have taken 20,000 a day for extended periods, no effect that I could see

I don't think you should look at it that way. If I change the oil in my car I will not notice a change in performance or even gas mileage. But regular oil changes help ensure the longevity of the car.

People with optimum blood levels of vitamin D over the long term have fewer and milder flares. And the D vitamin is not only effective for IBD. Google 'vitamin D cancer', or 'vitamin D heart disease', arthritis, depression, or anything else and you will find numerous studies showing the effectiveness of vitamin D for many conditions. Truly a panacea vitamin.
Posted 9/7/2017 2:40 PM (GMT 0)

IamCurious said...
Truly a panacea vitamin.

No it's not. There's no such thing as a panacea anything. My BS detector instantly goes off when somebody tries to portray substance x as a cure-all for numerous complex conditions, all with their own sets of genes, triggers, environments they operate within, and so on.

On a personal level I've been supplementing vitamin D for the past 3 months. My Crohn's still seems as active as ever (and maybe getting worse), plus I've been through one of the worst periods of depression I've ever been through (and am very far from being out of the woods yet).

Post Edited (NiceCupOfTea) : 9/7/2017 8:44:13 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 9/7/2017 4:03 PM (GMT 0)
I don't know what you are talking about. Nobody ever said vit D was a cure-all for anything. But do google 'vitamin D' and you will find recent studies that show it helps mitigate a host of diseases and chronic conditions.
Posted 9/7/2017 4:10 PM (GMT 0)
What panacea means:

'A solution or remedy for all difficulties or diseases.' - /en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/panacea -

No, Vitamin D isn't a solution or remedy for all difficulties or diseases.
Posted 9/7/2017 4:22 PM (GMT 0)
There is also a study on less relapse I posted a few months ago.
I am sure it helps some, just not me,that I can detect.
Old Mike
Posted 9/7/2017 4:42 PM (GMT 0)
Tbh, I never thought that vitamin D was likely to help with my Crohn's - after years of nothing working, I would have been beyond astonished if vitamin D had been the answer. I'm hoping it will make my bones healthier and stop them from crumbling to dust in the future, that's about it.

Whether or not it can even slightly reduce the risk of cancer is still massively up in the air. People literally interpret study results however they want to interpret them, as these two directly opposing headlines posted on the same day about the same study show.

/www.healthnewsreview.org/2017/03/vitamin-d-cancer-how-can-2-news-releases-from-the-same-study-be-polar-opposites/

The only way round the hopelessly inherent bias in everything is to look at the cold, hard numbers and make up your own mind. And that's what I do.

The second post hoc analysis — which excluded cancers, deaths, and drop-outs during the first year — showed that 3.17 percent of the supplement group and 4.86 percent of the placebo group had a new cancer diagnosis during years 2-4 of the study. But this result can not unequivocally differentiate which agent — calcium or vitamin D — is responsible for that effect.

That '30% lower risk of cancer' doesn't look so grand now, does it?
Posted 9/7/2017 4:53 PM (GMT 0)
Vitamin D may not be a panacea for folks who are replete, but for those of us who were low.....it sure can feel like one.

The immune system connection and vitamin D is an interesting one, as well. It may not cure my UC, but I absolutely won't ever allow myself to get low on it again. My mood and feelings are like night and day to 3-4 months ago.

*** wish I could get into that link still
Posted 9/7/2017 4:55 PM (GMT 0)
How did it feel like a panacea for you? My vitamin D was really low, but I can't say taking a supplement made much difference to me. I think it got rid of a few mild aches and pains, which is certainly better than nothing, but I'd much much much rather get rid of my Crohn's, uveitis and depression (not necessarily in that order) than a mild shoulder ache which really didn't bother me.

Edit: How can you tell that the improvement in mood was down to vitamin D though? My mood crashed badly several weeks ago and I could blame it on the vitamin D. As much as I think it's supremely unlikely the vitamin D had anything to do with it, I can't actually prove it didn't.

Post Edited (NiceCupOfTea) : 9/7/2017 10:58:03 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 9/7/2017 5:12 PM (GMT 0)
@NCOT, you definitely have a point.....I can't prove a thing. I mean, the other issues I'd been dealing with were bringing me down (the rosacea, sinusitis, joint pain) and maybe simply having those issues cleared up is just making my mood better.

That said, my vitamin D was low and I am supplementing it now and I feel really good.....so I'll keep at it. At least until I am at 80-90 as I read was a good level for people with IBD for a variety of reasons.

Honestly.....when can anyone prove most anything? being that we are making all sorts of changes concurrently, some big and others subtle....it's tough. Sometimes we have to invoke our intuitive nature. I've also been resolving some emotional things. Could be that, too?

Let's just say this IS a placebo effect......if someone were to prove that to me.......I'd be ok with it. I'd keep taking the vitamin D because placebo or not, if it works I'll accept it. You know?
Posted 9/7/2017 5:16 PM (GMT 0)
Moods ups and downs arent9the same as having depression or anxiety.

Anyone low on vitamin D should have it brought up to appropriate levels....most people are low.
Many elderly with dementia are totally replete in vitamon D and B12, and memory loss, dementia can also a symptom. I believe that once a health issue possibly caused by low or non-existant D can be lessened, but not cured once it's been increased.

I still have pain, UC, PBC, depression, skin issues, anxiety, etc....was it helped by increasing D? Have no idea, but I'll maintain using it, for as I age, I have no idea what it could be like if I didn't supplement with it at all. I do, however, know my husband was replete of it, and once supplementing, some of his overall body pain and fatigue lessened greatly. The main damage from injury in back is what it is....still and forever.

q
Posted 9/7/2017 6:32 PM (GMT 0)
Whilst its not a cure, I cannot deny Vitamin D is very important for UC patients or anyone with immune system issues. I have personally seen a difference.

I must also stress that many UC and Chrons patients suffer from malabsorption thus on many occasions pills do not yield results.

The big problem is that no one truly knows the right amount to take.

I read a few years ago that people in the 1930's were using up to 200-300k iu vit D with no toxic side effects. I also read race and ethnicity plays a role too.

It's worth mentioning I have a family friend with a severe and rare autoimmune disease and she moved to a hot climate from the UK. After a few weeks her condition had vastly improved.
Posted 9/7/2017 6:42 PM (GMT 0)
@Marjie - Ack, I forgot sinusitis. That's one thing the vitamin D deffo hasn't cleared up for me, unfortunately. Anyway, as you mentioned resolving some emotional stuff, without actually knowing any of the details I wouldn't be surprised if that had far more of a positive effect on your mood than the vitamin D did. This is not an accusation that I'm levelling at you, but I'm amazed at how the alt heath sorts manage to find simplistic remedies for common ailments, such as IBS/IBD, depression and anxiety, autism, diabetes, chronic pain, cancer etc. They hype up studies which are extremely tenuous in their conclusions, and claim that vitamin x or supplement y is an amazing remedy for a whole umbrella of multifactorial conditions.

I can only speak for me, but I think I can say that my genes and my environment have been what have made me so depressed over the years. That said, if I had a time machine one of the things I would do would be to start taking a shed load of vitamin D in my teens and see whether that stops me from developing Crohn's.

Edit: Deen - I'm taking a vitamin D spray, so in theory at least there should be no absorption issues. But yeah, during a flare-up, tablets might not be adequately absorbed.
Posted 9/7/2017 7:05 PM (GMT 0)

Deen said...

The big problem is that no one truly knows the right amount to take.

Just take enough vit D to get optimum blood levels, 40-60 ng/ml (100-150 nmol/L). I need 5,000 IU per day to achieve that. If you work as a lifeguard or roofer you will probably need less. If you are in a flare most likely you have absorption issues and will need even more. Get your levels measured regularly.

But do be careful. Over 100 ng/ml is flirting with overdose.

Post Edited (IamCurious) : 9/7/2017 1:08:35 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 9/7/2017 8:04 PM (GMT 0)
Those with dark skin and extremely tanned skin actually don't absorb vitamin D well, contrary to belief about sun and vitamin D.

always good to be checked regardless of sun exposure.

q
Posted 9/7/2017 8:53 PM (GMT 0)
I'm still new to UC so I'm open to all suggestions.

Is Vitamin D something I can just buy at Target and start taking before bringing it up to my doctor or should I wait to talk to him first?
Posted 9/7/2017 8:54 PM (GMT 0)
"Edit: Deen - I'm taking a vitamin D spray, so in theory at least there should be no absorption issues. But yeah, during a flare-up, tablets might not be adequately absorbed."

seems like time to throw out the theory crap and just have your level checked -
Posted 9/8/2017 2:02 AM (GMT 0)
Vitamin D supplementation reduces fecal calprotectin and may alter microbiota composition in patients with active ulcerative colitis

M GARG,*,†,‡ P HENDY,‡ S SHAW,§ JN DING,‡ G HOLD,§ A HART‡,¶
*Department of Gastroenterology, Eastern Health, and †Eastern Health Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; and ‡St Mark’s Hospital, Harrow, §University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen and ¶Imperial College, London, UK

Background: There is evidence for vitamin D as an immunomodulator in patients with IBD, but results from clinical trials to date are inconclusive. It is uncertain whether vitamin D supplementation may affect the intestinal microbiota.

Aim: 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 fecal microbiota.

Methods: Vitamin D was replaced over 8 weeks in patients with active UC (defined by baseline fecal calprotecin ≥100 μg/g), inactive UC (defined by baseline fecal calprotectin <100 μg/g), and non-IBD controls with baseline 25(OH) vitamin D levels <50 nmol/L. Serum and fecal markers of inflammation were noted, and stool was collected for microbiota analyses by next-generation sequencing.

Results: Eight patients with active UC (mean age, 45 [range, 30–68] years; four female), nine with inactive UC (mean age, 45 [range 28–72] years; three female), and eight non-IBD controls (mean age, 51 [range 35–66] years; three female) received 40 000 units of vitamin D weekly over 8 weeks. No demographic differences were noted across the groups. Mean baseline 25 (OH)D level was 34 (range, 12–49) nmol/L. Vitamin D supplementation in- creased the mean 25(OH)D level to 111 (range, 71–158) nmol/L (P < 0.001) and reduced parathyroid hormone levels from a mean of 4.3 to 3.3 pmol/L (P = 0.017). No significant difference in increment in serum 25(OH)D levels across the three groups was observed (P = 0.316). No change in baseline medications for UC took place in patients with UC, except for one patient with active UC who ceased 5-aminosalicylate. Fecal calprotectin levels re- duced from a median of 275 to 91 μg/g (P = 0.023) in patients with active colitis, but did not change in patients with inactive colitis (P = 0.343) or non-IBD controls (P = 0.194). Similar improvements in albumin level (P = 0.044), platelet count (P = 0.032), and symptomatic disease activity in- dices (Simple Clinical Colitis Activity Index, P = 0.005) were noted. No overall change in microbial diversity was noted. Relative abundance of Ruminococcus gnavus reduced, and the phylum Actinobacteria increased, across all groups, but this did not reach statistical significance.

Conclusions: Vitamin D supplementation was associated with reduced in- testinal inflammation in patients with active UC, and a signal for alteration of gut microbiota composition was seen. A randomized controlled trial evaluating vitamin D in patients with IBD is required, along with further investigation of potential mechanisms by which vitamin D may alter specific microbial composition.
Posted 9/8/2017 2:04 AM (GMT 0)
The role of the intestinal microbiota in the etiology of inflammatory bowel disease and the impact of Helicobacter pylori infection

N CASTAÑO-RODRÍGUEZ,* G POPPLE,* NO KAAKOUSH,† WS LEE,‡,§ HM MITCHELL*

Schools of *Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, †Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; and ‡Department of Pediatrics, University Malaya Medical Centre, and §University Malaya Pediatrics and Child Health Research Group, University Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Background: A recent global meta-analysis by our group showed a significant negative association between gastric Helicobacter pylori infection and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Here, we aimed to explore the underlying mechanisms by investigating the effect of gastric H. pylori infection on the composition and abundance of the gut microbiota and the host local and systemic immune responses.

Methods: This case–control study comprised 30 patients with IBD and 70 controls from Malaysia. DNA was extracted from gastrointestinal biopsies (terminal ileum, cecum, colon, and rectum) and stool samples. 16S rRNA gene sequencing was conducted using the Earth Microbiome primers (515F and 806R) and the Illumina MiSeq 2 × 250 bp chemistry. H. pylori status was determined by immunoblot. Systemic and local cytokine profiles (IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, IL-18, IFN-β, and TGF-β1) were determined by ELISA and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, respectively.

Results: Escherichia/Shigella, Bacteroides, and Prevotella emerged as the three microbial taxa leading to distinct enterotypes in the current study population. Species richness and Shannon’s diversity were similar across subgroups. Gastrointestinal location was found to contribute to significant differences in the gut microbiota of both patients with IBD and controls. Prevotellaceae, Lachnospiraceae, Veillonellaceae, Campylobacteraceae, and Coriobacteriaceae were enriched in the gastrointestinal tract of patients with IBD when compared with controls. Interestingly, non-metric multidimensional scaling showed a significant lower dispersion in H. py- lori-positive patients with IBD when compared with H. pylori-negative patients with IBD, while PERMANOVA showed that a significant difference exists in the composition of the gut microbiota of H. pylori-positive and -negative patients with IBD (pseudo-F = 2.68; p(PERM) = 0.025). H. pylori infection was found to upregulate local anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-18, IL-10, and TGF-β1) and downregulate both local and systemic pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-12, and IFN-β).

Conclusion: H. pylori infection modulates the composition and abundance of the gut microbiota, as well as the local and systemic immune responses in patients with IBD.
Posted 9/8/2017 9:21 AM (GMT 0)

superhenderson13 said...
I'm still new to UC so I'm open to all suggestions.

Is Vitamin D something I can just buy at Target and start taking before bringing it up to my doctor or should I wait to talk to him first?

You can buy Vitamin D in any drugstore where the vitamins and supplements are. Target should have it. And yes, talk to your doctor.
Posted 9/8/2017 10:37 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the full version, Mark .

These things from the first article caught my eye:

"Prevotellaceae, Lachnospiraceae, Veillonellaceae, Campylobacteraceae, and Coriobacteriaceae were enriched in the gastrointestinal tract of patients with IBD when compared with controls."

And:

"Conclusion: H. pylori infection modulates the composition and abundance of the gut microbiota, as well as the local and systemic immune responses in patients with IBD."

I remember reading recently that an h. pylori infection at an early age was a "protector" and would help reduce the odds of one developing IBD. I guess that't because of it's propensity to rally the immune response? I have a lot to learn......
Posted 9/8/2017 5:13 PM (GMT 0)
How do they actually KNOW it would reduce the odds of getting UC? It's certainly something that increases the odds of upper gastro ulcers and cancer.
No crystal ball to say of one will get it or not.

q
Posted 9/8/2017 5:28 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, true....they don't know much (conclusively anyway). In the summary it's stated this:

"These results suggest a protective benefit of H. pylori infection against the development of IBD. "

Full text:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4865406/

There are so many factors and unknowns though still....I agree there's no crystal ball.
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