What is Vitamin D? Vitamin D is an important nutrient that your body can get from three main sources: sunshine, food, and supplements.

Why is Vitamin D important for people with IBD? Adults and children with IBD often have low levels of Vitamin D. There are a few reasons for this: you may have a low appetite, your body may not absorb enough vitamin D from your food, you lose some of the goodness in food due to pooping it out quickly, or you may feel too unwell to do your usual outdoor activities.

How might having the right amount of vitamin D help me and my IBD? Having the right amount of vitamin D in your body may help your immune system, gut, bones, and disease outcomes. Some research has shown that having normal levels of vitamin D, instead of low levels, may help lower your disease activity as well as reduce inflammation. Vitamin D may also help you get well-balanced gut bacteria (the good ones!) and prevent poor bone health which may decrease the risk of fractures later in life.

How does my body get vitamin D? There are three main sources of vitamin D – sunshine, food, and supplements.

Sunshine: 80% to 90% of the vitamin D found in the human body is from exposure to sunshine (ultra-violet light). But there are a few reasons why you may not get enough from sunshine. If you feel unwell it’s extra hard to get outside into the sunshine. In summer it’s important to use sunscreen during the day or cover up to prevent burning, especially if you’re on certain medicines. During the winter months it’s hard to get enough sunlight – especially here in New Zealand!

Food: 20% of your daily vitamin D comes from food. Foods that are rich in vitamin D include: oily fish, eggs, beef liver, and foods that may have it added such as low-fat dairy products, or dairy substitutes. Poor food absorption and extra or fast stool losses may stop your body getting as much from food as possible.

Supplements: Vitamin D supplements are available for anyone to buy in the supermarket or pharmacy. But it is very important to follow the instructions on the label and to discuss taking them with your GP, gastroenterologist, or IBD Nurse. Stop taking them if you feel any side-effects or have adverse reactions, and always read the label.

How can you check vitamin D levels? The only way to find out your vitamin D level is by asking your GP or gastroenterologist to test the levels in your blood.

So, what’s your summary about vitamin D? The take-home message is to try and maximise your vitamin D levels from getting safe sunshine (don’t burn!) and eating vitamin D rich foods. If you want to try taking supplements, then follow the dosage instructions and keep your medical team informed!