Vitamin D a Bone Booster for People with Digestive Problems
People with digestive diseases, such as ulcerative colitis and
Crohn’s disease, are especially susceptible to osteoporosis and
bone fractures, due in part to nutrient deficiencies caused by
malabsorption and medication side effects. A new study found
that people with good vitamin D status early in the course of
their disease had higher bone density and a greater likelihood
of increasing bone density over time. Healthy vitamin D levels
predict healthy bones The study, published in the American
Journal of Gastroenterology, included 101 people who had
recently been diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Vitamin D levels in the blood and bone mineral density were
measured at the beginning of the study, and bone density
measurements were repeated approximately two years later. Only
22% of the people had optimal vitamin D levels at the beginning
of the study. Higher vitamin D levels were associated with
higher bone density in the spine, hip, and