Some vitamin deficiencies may contribute to the severity of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), creating a cycle in which inflammation worsens nutrient status, and impaired nutrient status further amplifies inflammation.
A study published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology (2003; 98(1):112–117) evaluated vitamin B₆ status in 61 patients with inflammatory bowel disease (30 men and 31 women). Vitamin B₆ levels were significantly lower in patients with IBD compared with healthy controls.
Vitamin B₆ levels were lowest in patients experiencing active disease flares and higher in those in remission. In addition, lower vitamin B₆ levels were associated with increased levels of inflammatory markers, including C-reactive protein (CRP), a commonly used indicator of systemic inflammation.
