Vitamin D - A Possible Cure For Chrohn's Disease?

By Author: Chester Ku-Lea
Total Articles: 40
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Vitamin D, often touted as the sunshine vitamin may help prevent Crohn's disease, according to a new study from Montreal. Don't raise your champagne glasses yet but the latest research gives hope to the estimated 170,000 Canadians who suffer from Crohn's disease.

Chrone's disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disorder that generally affects the lower intestine. "Our data suggests for the first time that Vitamin D deficiency can contribute to Crohn's disease," said John White, an endocrinologist at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre.

Canada has one of the largest rates of Crohn's disease. It's thought that people living in northern climates receiving less sunshine in the winter months are particularly vulnerable to Crohn's disease. The Vitamin D from sunshine seemed to switch on two genes important in fighting or preventing Crohn's disease.

"It's reasonable to think that Vitamin D deficiency can contribute to the frequency of the disease," White said. "Siblings of patients with Crohn's disease that haven't yet developed the disease might be well advised to make sure they're Vitamin ...
... D sufficient."

The researchers are cautiously optimistic that simply supplementing with Vitamin D may fight or prevent Crohn's disease. The research has advanced to clinical trials and much more research must be carried out to gauge its effectiveness.

If you're familiar with the Vancouver climate - dark and cold from November to March - you'll know that I take a Vitamin D supplement everyday in the winter months. I take 1000-2000IU of Vitamin D from NOW Foods, a product that won the Vity Award for Best Single Vitamin. AOR makes a great Liquid Vitamin D supplement made from Lanolin (sheep wool?), soy and coconuts if you're averse to taking pills.
Chester Ku-Lea is a health nutrition consultant and is the owner of AstroNutrition.com - a provider of premium health nutrition and sports supplements. Check out our blog at AstroNutrition.com/blog.