A retrospective study that found a link between pretreatment vitamin D levels and the clinical and endoscopic outcomes in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) treated with vedolizumab.
Key findings from the study include:
Vitamin D and Ulcerative Colitis (UC): In patients with UC, higher pretreatment vitamin D levels were associated with significant endoscopic improvement. Patients with vitamin D levels ≥ 30 ng/mL at the initiation of vedolizumab therapy showed a notable decrease in UC Endoscopic Index of Severity (UCEIS) scores after 6 months compared to those with lower vitamin D levels.
Vitamin D and Crohn Disease (CD): In patients with CD, those with higher vitamin D levels at the start of vedolizumab therapy had greater iron saturation and vitamin B12 levels compared to those with lower vitamin D levels. Post-treatment, patients with higher pretreatment vitamin D levels also had significantly greater vedolizumab levels.
Improvements in Vitamin D Levels: Both UC and CD patient groups showed significant improvements in vitamin D levels after starting vedolizumab treatment. In the UC group, vitamin D levels increased more significantly in patients with higher pretreatment levels.
Impact on Other Parameters: The study observed statistically significant decreases in various clinical scores and inflammatory markers in both UC and CD groups after treatment. However, changes in vitamin D levels did not correlate with most of these parameters, except for a significant decrease in C-reactive protein (CRP) among CD patients with baseline CRP > 5 mg/dL who had greater improvements in vitamin D.
Study Implications: The findings suggest that vitamin D can play a role in clinical and endoscopic outcomes for IBD patients treated with vedolizumab. The study recommends routine assessment and optimization of vitamin D levels in IBD patients in future prospective studies.