Bring out the sunblock and the vitamin packs because a new study published in BMJ Open Gastroenterology shows a large amount of people living with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) may actually be vitamin D deficient.
As the first of its kind, the study found a significant association between the patient’s vitamin D levels and the severity of their IBS, especially with how it effects their quality of life.
What is IBS?
IBS is a chronic and debilitating functional disorder of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract that affects around 10-15 percent of the western world. While little is known about its origins, we do know that dietary choices and stress can make IBS symptoms worse.
“IBS is a poorly understood condition which impacts severely on the quality of life of sufferers. There is no single known cause and likewise no single known cure,” said Bernard Corfe, study leader from the University of Sheffield’s molecular gastroenterology research group.
“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,” he continued.
Vitamin D is key
In the study, researchers found that 82 percent of the 51 IBS patients tested had insufficient vitamin D levels.
“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,” Corfe said.
So if you’re embarrassed about your symptoms, clear the air and talk to your doctor—there may be help in your future.
“As a result of this exploratory study, we’re now able to design and justify a larger and more definitive clinical trial,” Corfe continued. “Our data provide a potential new insight into the condition and importantly a new way to try to manage it.”
—–
Image credit: Thinkstock
Comments