We aimed to understand how vitamin D3 supplementation might help adolescents suffering from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), especially those who are deficient in vitamin D. Our study involved 112 adolescents diagnosed with IBS, who were split into two groups based on their age and gender.
One group received a daily dose of 2000 IU of oral vitamin D for six months, while the other group received a placebo. To evaluate the impact of the treatment, we assessed vitamin D levels and used various IBS scoring systems before and after the six-month period.
The results were promising for the vitamin D group. We observed significant improvements in both the IBS Severity Scoring System (IBS-SSS) and the quality of life related to IBS (IBS-QoL), with improvements noted at a high level of statistical significance. Additionally, the serum vitamin D levels in the treatment group doubled, which correlates with the improvements in IBS.
Interestingly, the placebo group did not show significant changes in their serum vitamin D levels. Throughout the study, we found that vitamin D supplementation was well tolerated, with no adverse effects reported.
In conclusion, our findings suggest that vitamin D3 supplementation can be quite beneficial for adolescents with IBS and vitamin D deficiency, helping to improve their symptoms and overall quality of life.