- New research looks into how a certain vitamin can “reset” 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.
You may know vitamin D 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 pediatrician, plant-based health coach, and founder of Eat Plants MD Coach in Phoenix, Arizona. People with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which is characterized by ulcerative colitis and Chron’s disease, are known to have low vitamin D levels, explains Dr. Gosnell, and therefore tend struggle with some of those functions, including immunity. “It’s common because inflammation impairs nutrient absorption, making it harder for these patients to maintain adequate nutrient levels,” she adds.
Meet the Experts: Heather Gosnell, MD, 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 new study published in Cell Reports Medicine 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.
What did the study find?
“This 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?” explains Liz Daniels, D.O., R.D., F.A.A.P., a pediatrician, dietitian, and founder of New Story Nutrition. “When 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.” (Past research has explored the connection between vitamin D deficiency and chronic inflammation.)
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’s 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.
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 “reset” or shift the immune system and antibody activity toward greater tolerance of gut bacteria–which is at the heart of what makes IBD worse, says Dr. Gosnell–and promote the growth of beneficial gut microbes known to reduce inflammation.
How are immune and gut health related?Why vitamin D?
“IBD isn’t the only autoimmune condition linked to low vitamin D—or to show improved symptoms when vitamin D levels rise,” explains Dr. Daniels. “But 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.”
She adds that this study’s 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. “More broadly, this study is a compelling reminder of just how powerfully nutrition shapes immune health,” she concludes.
How to get more vitamin D
There are ways to get more vitamin D, and one of them is “completely free,” says Dr. Daniels, adding: “About five to 10 minutes of midday sun on your torso, arms, and legs can generate vitamin D through your skin—but 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.”
Foods with vitamin D 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’t get enough, and a vitamin D deficiency rarely shows noticeable symptoms, she adds, which is why getting regular bloodwork is important. “If you’re falling short, a supplement is a simple, inexpensive fix,” she says. “Just check with your doctor about the right dose for you.”
The bottom line
This study reinforces the notion that something as simple as our diet can influence complicated disease patterns, says Dr. Daniels. Also, it shows promise for the treatment of IBD and, potentially, other autoimmune diseases. Even so, there is such thing as taking too many vitamins, which is why it’s important to discuss your supplement regimen with your doctor.
Dietary supplements are products intended to supplement the diet. They are not medicines and are not intended to treat, diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or cure diseases. Be cautious about taking dietary supplements if you are pregnant or nursing. Also, be careful about giving supplements to a child, unless recommended by their healthcare provider.
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