Is There A Link Between IBS And Vitamin D Deficiency?

Researchers discovered a link between vitamin D levels and the severity of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), according to a new study.

Researchers at the University of Sheffield found that most IBS patients have insufficient levels of vitamin D.

"IBS is a poorly understood condition which impacts severely on the quality of life of sufferers," said Dr. Bernard Corfe, a researcher at the University of Sheffield, in a news release. "There is no single known cause and likewise no single known cure. Clinicians and patients currently have to work together and use trial and error to manage the condition and this may take years with no guarantee of success."

During the study, researchers examined 51 patients with IBS. They randomized participants in the study to either receive a supplement for vitamin D and a probiotic, vitamin D and a probiotic placebo or a double placebo. The study period lasted for 12 weeks.

The study showed that the while having or not having a probiotic made little difference regarding the illness, those who received the vitamin D supplement showed more improvement in symptoms over others. 

"Our data provide a potential new insight into the condition and importantly a new way to try to manage it," Corfe said. "It was clear from our findings that many people with IBS should have their vitamin D levels tested, and the data suggests that they may benefit from supplementation with vitamin D. As a result of this exploratory study, we're now able to design and justify a larger and more definitive clinical trial."

The study is published in the British Medical Journal. 

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