Vitamin D supplementation in adolescents with irritable bowel syndrome: Is it useful? A randomized controlled trial

• Published in: The Saudi Journal of Gastroenterology
• Main Authors: Doaa El Amrousy, Samir Hassan, Heba El Ashry, Mohamed Yousef, Hossam Hodeib
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2018-01-01
• Subjects: Adolescents; irritable bowel syndrome; vitamin D
• Online Access: http://www.saudijgastro.com/article.asp?issn=1319-3767;year=2018;volume=24;issue=2;spage=109;epage=114;aulast=El
• ISSN: 1319-3767; 1998-4049

Background/Aim: Vitamin D deficiency is common in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). There is growing interest in the role of vitamin D in pediatric IBS. We aimed to evaluate the effect of vitamin D supplementation in adolescents with IBS and vitamin D deficiency. Patients and Methods: One hundred and twelve adolescents with IBS and vitamin D deficiency were randomly divided into two groups of matched age and sex. The first group received oral vitamin D3 2000IU/day for 6 months and the second group received placebo for 6 months. Vitamin D status as well as different IBS score systems (IBS-SSS, IBS-QoL, and total score) were evaluated before and 6 months after treatment. Results: IBS patients who received vitamin D supplementation for 6 months showed significant improvement in IBS-SSS (P < 0.001), IBS-QoL (P < 0.001), and total score (P = 0.02) compared to IBS placebo group. IBS patients treated with vitamin D showed two folds increase in their serum vitamin D levels (from 17.2 ± 1.3 to 39 ± 3.3) ng/ml with P < 0.001. While in the placebo group, their serum vitamin D levels were not significantly changed (P = 0.66). Vitamin D was tolerated well without any recorded adverse effects during the study period. Conclusion: Vitamin D supplementation can be effective in treating adolescents with IBS and vitamin D deficiency.