Vitamin D, touted as the “sunshine cure,” might also prevent and fight,
suggests a new study by Montreal researchers.
Vitamin D might fight
The discovery has yet to be confirmed by clinical trials, but it raises
hopes for the estimated 170,000 Canadians with either disease or
ulceration colitis.
Canada has one of the highest reported rates in the world for Crohn’s
disease, a chronic
Vitamin D might fight
inflammatory bowel disorder that usually affects the
lower small intestine.”Our data suggests White noted that people who live in northern climates — which receive
less sunshine that is essential for the fabrication of Vitamin D by the
human body — are especially vulnerable to Crohn’s disease.
White and his colleagues treated cancer cells in the lab with Vitamin D,
and then carried out a micro-array or genetic analysis of those cells.
Vitamin D
They found that Vitamin D switched on two genes that are important in
preventing or fighting Crohn’s disease.
“It’s reasonable to think that Vitamin D deficiency can contribute to
the frequency of the disease,” White said.
As for whether taking Vitamin D could be an effective treatment for
Crohn’s, White was cautious, saying that would have to be demonstrate clinical trial.
