The Role of Vitamin D for Children with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Abstract

Children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have a high prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency secondary to factors such as malabsorption and decreased intake. In recent years the benefits of optimal vitamin D status have been highlighted for their potential to improve the disease course and long-term outcomes in this population. Clinical benefits have been seen to bone health, the immune system, and gut health, with further improvements to disease and treatment outcomes. Recommendations for vitamin D treatment parameters to optimize these benefits have been developed, as well as the identification of risk factors for insufficiency specific to children with IBD. While various supplementation regimens are available reports of efficacy are inconsistent, as are guidelines for frequency of testing. Further research is required to elucidate whether hypovitaminosis D is a cause or consequence of IBD, and the role of vitamin D supplementation in treatment warrants significant attention.