Vitamin D level in Hungarian patients with inflammatory bowel diseases

Abstract

Introduction: Vitamin D has an important role in the immune regulation. Vitamin D is essential for innate and adaptive immune systems and it plays a significant role in the formation of immune tolerance, as well. Aim: Vitamin D deficiency has been observed in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases in Western Europe, but there is no data available from Eastern Europe. Method: The study included 169 patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Results: The median vitamin D level was 22.7±10.6 ng/ml. Only 20% of the patients had adequate vitamin D level (>30 ng/ml), 52% had vitamin D insufficiency (15–30 ng/ml), and 28% of them had severe vitamin D deficiency (<15 ng/ml). Vitamin D concentration failed to correlate with clinical activity indexes (partial Mayo score: r = –0.143; Crohn’s disease activity index: r = –0.253) and with inflammatory parameters (C-reactive protein: r = 0.008; erythrocyte sedimentation rate: r = 0.012). Conclusions: Since vitamin D deficiency can be frequently observed in Hungarian patients with inflammatory bowel disease, its level should be tested in these patients. Orv. Hetil., 154(46), 1821–1828.