Does vitamin D supplementation improve Crohn's symptoms?

"Vitamin D: The alternative hypothesis" in Autoimmunity Reviews (2009)

"Emerging molecular evidence suggests that symptomatic improvements among those administered vitamin D is the result of 25-D's ability to temper bacterial-induced inflammation by slowing VDR activity. While this results in short-term palliation, persistent pathogens that may influence disease progression, proliferate over the long-term."

"Article Commentary: Clinical Trial: Vitamin D3 Treatment in Crohn’s Disease: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Study" in Nutr Clin Pract (2011)
Conclusions: "Oral supplementation with 1200 IE vitamin D3 significantly increased serum vitamin D levels and insignificantly reduced the risk of relapse from 29% to 13%, (P = 0.06). Given that vitamin D3 treatment might be effective in Crohn’s disease, larger studies are required in order to elucidate this matter further."

Primal Body, Primal Mind: Beyond the Paleo Diet for Total Health and a Longer Life by Nora T. Gedgaudas (2011)"When Vitamin D supplementation is determined to be necessary, care, in my opinion, must be taken to supplement with a vitamin D complex containing the vitamin's numerous cofactors in relative balance, or rather, with vitamin A in its true state, as found in beef liver, grass-fed butter and ghee, and what is called "high vitamin" cod-liver oil (rich in both vitamins A and D)--not simply beta-carotene.  Taking a "vitamin D pill" may not necessarily be the best option.  Emulsified, liquid forms of supplemental vitamin D may be a better choice for some people, as they are far better absorbed by most people and are much safer.  Emulsification improves the vitamin's water solubility, so excesses can be more readily excreted."


"Vitamins A & D Inhibit the Growth of Mycobacteria in Radiometric Culture" in PLoS ONE (2011)
"Vitamins A and D cause dose-dependent inhibition of all three mycobacterial species studied. Vitamin A is consistently more inhibitory than vitamin D. The vitamin A precursor, β-carotene, is not inhibitory, whereas three vitamin A metabolites cause inhibition."

"Food intake in patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease" in ABCD Arq Bras Cir Dig (2011) [full article]

"There was deficiency in food intake in both CD and UC in active and in remission. These deficiencies
are mainly related to the intake of macronutrients, energy and fiber and micronutrients, including ... cholecalciferol...."