Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin long associated with bone health, but emerging evidence is revealing that it has a broader role, particularly in gut health. Both animal and human studies have linked low vitamin D levels with a variety of gastrointestinal (GI) diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), diverticulitis, colon cancer, and liver disease.
Such results are concerning, given the high rates of vitamin D deficiency observed globally. In the United States, there are notable prevalence disparities in vitamin D deficiency, where the overall rate is estimated to be 42%, with the highest rate in the African American population (82%), followed by the Hispanic population (63%).
Courtesy Medscape
