ABSTRACT & COMMENTARY
Vitamin D Alters Gut Microbiome
Results from a randomized, double-blinded, dose-response study REFERENCE Charoenngam N, Shirvani A, Kalajian TA, Song A, Holick MF. The effect of various doses of oral vitamin D3 supplementation on gut microbiota in healthy adults: a randomized, double-blinded, dose-response study. Anticancer Res. 2020;40(1):551-556.
DESIGN This randomized, double-blinded, dose-response study investigated the effects of vitamin D3 supplementation on gut microbiota.
PARTICIPANTS Twenty adults with low vitamin D status (defined as serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] of less than 30 ng/mL).
STUDY MEDICATION AND DOSAGE Participants received either 600, 4,000, or 10,000 IU per day of oral vitamin D3.
OUTCOME MEASURES Researchers collected stool samples at baseline and 8 weeks to identify gut microbiota using 16S rRNA gene amplification and sequencing.
KEY FINDINGS Baseline serum 25(OH)D was associated with increased relative abundance of Akkermansia and decreased relative abundance of Porphyromonas (P<0.05). After the intervention, data analysis showed a dose- dependent increase in relative abundance of Bacteroides, with a significant difference between the 600 IU group and the 10,000 IU group (P=0.027), and Parabacteroides, with a significant difference between the 600 IU group and the 4,000 IU group (P=0.039). Increased serum 25(OH)D was associated with increased beneficial bacteria and decreased pathogenic bacteria.
Jacob Schor, ND, FABNO
PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS Vitamin D3 supplementation was linked to a dose-dependent increase in bacteria associated with decreased inflammatory bowel disease activity. This is not the first time D3 supplementation has been connected with shifts in gut microbiota. A number of studies have monitored gut microbiota with varying findings. A November 2019 paper by Naderpoor et al reported results of their randomized clinical trial giving vitamin D to 26 vitamin D–deficient, overweight people and the impact this had on their fecal microbiota.1 This study defined vitamin D deficiency as ≤50 nmol/L (equivalent to 20 ng/ mL) in contrast to Charoenngam’s 30 ng/mL line. Naderpoor’s participants received a 100,000 IU loading dose followed by 4,000 IU daily for 16 weeks. Vitamin D supplementation in this earlier trial increased abundance of gut microbiota of the Nevertheless, genus Lachnospira. After supplementation, participants whose vitamin D there is something blood levels increased to greater than intriguing about the 75 nmol/L had a higher abundance of genus Coprococcus and lower idea that exposing one’s abundance of genus Ruminococcus compared to those whose vitamin D abdomen to the sun levels remained below 50 nmol/L.
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We also have data from a 2015 study gut microbiota. by Cantarel et al that examined vitamin D supplementation (5,000 IU per day) for 90 days in women (n=70) with multiple sclerosis (MS) and 8 healthy controls. Fecal microbiome testing showed decreased abundance of genus Ruminococcus and increased Akkermansia and Faecalibacterium in this small group. The MS patients not on the drug glatiramer treatment showed an increase in Coprococcus, Akkermansia, and Faecalibacterium after vitamin D supplementation.2
Do we know what these various findings mean? There is some consensus that vitamin D supplements alter the gut microbiome. These various studies do not suggest a consistency in these alterations, though some do agree that Akkermansia increases. In recent years, Akkermansia muciniphila has received favorable attention, and many consider increased numbers of it beneficial.
10 ©2020 NATURAL MEDICINE JOURNAL. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NMJ, MAY 2020 SUPPLEMENT—VOL. 12, NO. 51 (SUPPL)
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