Vitamin D Protects Against Crohn's Disease

Vitamin D may protect against Crohn's disease, according to Canadian researchers.

They found that vitamin D acts on two genes -- defensin 2 and NOD2 -- that have been linked to Crohn's disease, an autoimmune disorder that affects the intestines, United Press International reported.

"Our data suggests, for the first time, that vitamin D deficiency can contribute to Crohn's disease," study leader Dr. John White, of McGill University in Montreal, said in a news release.

He suggested that siblings of patients with Crohn's disease who haven't yet developed the condition should make sure they consume adequate amounts of vitamin D, UPI reported.

"It's something that's easy to do, because they can simply go to a pharmacy and buy vitamin D supplements," White said.

The study appears in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

Crohn's disease is a severe, chronic inflammatory bowel disease. It causes inflammation, ulcers , and bleeding in the digestive tract. Crohn's disease usually affects the small intestine, particularly the last section (called the ileum), but any part of the digestive tract can be affected from the mouth to the anus.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is the term used for a group of diseases and disorders that affect the intestinal tract. IBD causes the intestines to become inflamed and irritated. IBD is a lifelong illness that can be difficult to control.

IBD affects about 600,000 Americans every year. The two most common forms of of IBD are Crohn's disease, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and ulcerative colitis.

There is no pharmacologic cure for IBD, but treatments can help control symptoms. While patients may temporarily recover and not experience any symptoms, recurring flare-ups are common.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a disorder of intestinal movement and sensation. IBS is not associated with inflammation, and it does not lead to more permanent harm or progress to more serious conditions.

Ulcerative colitis is a severe, chronic inflammatory bowel disease . It causes inflammation, ulcers, and bleeding in the lining of the colon and rectum.