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Researchers say vitamin D testing is important for Crohn's disease patients

Category: Vitamin D Deficiency-Diagnosis and Treatment

Vitamin D testing in patients with Crohn's disease has shown that a high percentage of these patients have dangerously low levels of the nutrient, according to a new study from Boston University researchers.

Crohn's disease is characterized by an inflammatory reaction at any point along the digestive tract to certain foods. Individuals who have the condition are often placed on restrictive diets. Additionally, the inflammation can make absorbing nutrients from the food they eat difficult. This may explain the low levels of vitamin D in these patients.

For the study, researchers provided vitamin D tests to a group of Crohn's disease patients before and after giving them a nutritional supplement. They found that circulating levels of the nutrient improved far less than would be expected in a healthy individual. However, the degree to which individuals were able to absorb the vitamin varied from participant to participant.

The researchers recommended that anyone who has the condition seek vitamin D testing to determine their ability to process the nutrient. This may help determine how much supplementation is necessary.