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New research looks into how a certain vitamin can \u201creset\u201d the immune system and potentially balance gut health in those who are deficient and have a particular health condition.The findings draw an interesting connection between immune and gut health.They also highlight the importance of diet in disease management. Experts weigh in.<\/p>\n
You may know vitamin D<\/a> as a key player in bone and mental health, but it wears even more hats than that: It regulates immune function, blood pressure, insulin secretion, and more, and plays a role in wound healing and hair growth, explains Heather Gosnell, M.D.<\/a>, a pediatrician, plant-based health coach, and founder of Eat Plants MD Coach in Phoenix, Arizona. People with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)<\/a>, which is characterized by ulcerative colitis and Chron\u2019s disease, are known to have low vitamin D levels, explains Dr. Gosnell, and therefore tend struggle with some of those functions, including immunity. \u201cIt\u2019s common because inflammation impairs nutrient absorption, making it harder for these patients to maintain adequate nutrient levels,\u201d she adds.<\/p>\n Meet the Experts: Heather Gosnell, MD<\/a>, pediatrician, plant-based health coach, and founder of Eat Plants MD Coach in Phoenix, Arizona; and Liz Daniels, D.O., R.D., F.A.A.P., a pediatrician, dietitian, and founder of New Story Nutrition<\/a>.<\/p>\n A new study published in Cell Reports Medicine<\/a> looks at exactly how vitamin D plays a role in the guts of people with IBD, how that process is linked up with the immune system, and how supplements may be able to help. The findings are promising.<\/p>\n What did the study find?<\/p>\n \u201cThis study asked two questions: can raising vitamin D in patients with IBD improve their symptoms, and if so, how does vitamin D interact with the immune system in the gut?\u201d explains Liz Daniels, D.O., R.D., F.A.A.P., a pediatrician, dietitian, and founder of New Story Nutrition<\/a>. \u201cWhen patients in this study were treated with high-dose vitamin D supplements, their blood inflammatory marker improved, and their gut bacteria shifted from a pro-inflammatory to a more anti-inflammatory profile. This suggested that vitamin D functions as a referee to the gut bacteria in a way that reduces inflammation in IBD.\u201d (Past research has explored the connection between vitamin D deficiency and chronic inflammation<\/a>.)<\/p>\n More specifically, 48 patients with IBD and low vitamin D at the average age of 39 (56% of whom had ulcerative colitis and 44% of whom had Crohn\u2019s disease) took 50,000 IU of vitamin D orally once a week for 12 weeks. Blood and stool samples were collected before and after treatment, and analyzed to track changes in the immune system and gut microbiome. The study was not placebo-controlled, meaning patients served as their own baseline comparisons.<\/p>\n After three months of supplementation, majority of patients experienced improved quality of life, reduced disease activity, and lowered inflammatory markers in stool. Supplementation also appeared to \u201creset\u201d or shift the immune system and antibody activity toward greater tolerance of gut bacteria\u2013which is at the heart of what makes IBD worse, says Dr. Gosnell\u2013and promote the growth of beneficial gut microbes known to reduce inflammation.<\/p>\n How are immune and gut health related?Why vitamin D?<\/p>\n \u201cIBD isn’t the only autoimmune condition linked to low vitamin D\u2014or to show improved symptoms when vitamin D levels rise,\u201d explains Dr. Daniels. \u201cBut because IBD directly involves the gut where vitamin D is absorbed, it offers a unique window into how the nutrient works at a tissue level.\u201d<\/p>\n She adds that this study\u2019s findings align with a growing body of research, the boottom line being that optimizing vitamin D levels is one of the most accessible and affordable ways to support IBD, alongside other treatments. \u201cMore broadly, this study is a compelling reminder of just how powerfully nutrition shapes immune health,\u201d she concludes.<\/p>\n How to get more vitamin D<\/p>\n There are ways to get more vitamin D,<\/a> and one of them is \u201ccompletely free,\u201d says Dr. Daniels, adding: \u201cAbout five to 10 minutes of midday sun on your torso, arms, and legs can generate vitamin D through your skin\u2014but it depends on your skin tone, the season, and how close you live to the equator. That variability is exactly why food and supplements matter, too.\u201d<\/p>\n Foods with vitamin D<\/a> include fatty fish, fortified milk and orange juice, and sun-dried mushrooms, but even then, the average American diet only delivers around 200 IUs per day, which is far below what most people need, Dr. Daniels notes. Most Americans don\u2019t get enough<\/a>, and a vitamin D deficiency<\/a> rarely shows noticeable symptoms, she adds, which is why getting regular bloodwork is important. \u201cIf you’re falling short, a supplement is a simple, inexpensive fix,\u201d she says. \u201cJust check with your doctor about the right dose for you.\u201d<\/p>\n The bottom line<\/p>\n