Vitamin D
April 13, 2024
Vitamin D and health
Lack of Vitamin D is more common among patients with IBS
In a study from the United Kingdom published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, results from seven studies on IBS and vitamin D were compiled. In four observational studies, researchers examined the vitamin D status of individuals with IBS and found a higher prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among those with IBS. Based on this, three subsequent interventional studies investigated how vitamin D supplementation affected this group. The studies found that vitamin D supplementation had a positive effect on both bowel movements and quality of life. However, the summary indicates that more research is needed to establish stronger evidence for the exact function of vitamin D in IBS. One theory as to why vitamin D deficiency is more common among individuals with IBS is that altered bowel movements combined with an irritated mucosa could reduce the absorption of vitamins in the small intestine. Serum levels of total 25(OH)D below 25 nanomoles per liter are generally defined as vitamin D deficiency, while levels above 50 nanomoles per liter are typically considered satisfactory.
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In the Belly Balance app, you can log symptoms, maintain a food diary, scan products, find FODMAP lists, and much more to help you manage your IBS.
Try the app for freeDifferent kinds of Vitamin D
Vitamin D is the overarching term used to describe both vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) and vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol). Vitamin D3 is produced in the skin through exposure to sunlight. However, this occurs only from May to August in Sweden, as the sun is at the wrong angle during the rest of the year. Vitamin D2 is the form of the vitamin found in certain plants and fungi, while vitamin D3 is an animal-derived form found in fish, meat, and eggs. There are few foods that are considered natural rich sources of vitamin D, most of which are of animal origin and contain vitamin D3 (egg yolks, fatty fish, meat, liver, and kidney). Among plant-based foods, it is primarily wild mushrooms that are a natural rich source of vitamin D2.
Historically, vitamin D3 and vitamin D2 have been considered equivalent in terms of their ability to raise vitamin D status after intake. However, a new study has shown that both types of vitamin D improve vitamin D status, with vitamin D3 being twice as effective compared to vitamin D2. Therefore, those who wish to avoid vitamin D3 from animal products can use vitamin D2 as a source of vitamin D, but they will likely need to take a higher dose of vitamin D2 compared to vitamin D3.
Top 10 foods rich in Vitamin D
- Fish (e.g., salmon, mackerel, herring, and perch)
- Eggs
- Wild mushrooms (e.g., chanterelles, horn of plenty, and porcini)
- Vitamin D-fortified dairy products
- Vitamin D-fortified plant-based products (e.g., soy drink, oat drink, and almond drink)
- Vitamin D-fortified cooking fats
- Poultry (e.g., chicken)
- Meat (beef and pork)
The more, the better?
Sofia Antonsson
Reg. Dietitian, Belly Balance
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IBS - What is it?
Bloated , constipated or having a gassy stomach? IBS or Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a functional gastrointestinal disorder, meaning no physical issues can be found in the stomach or intestines; they just don’t function quite as they should.
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