Martin Huorka
Vitamin D is basically a hormone that has long been known in osteology, considered crucial for a healthy development
and subsequent metabolism of bone tissue. However, vitamin D is also involved in a number of other
processes in the organism via interaction between vitamin D and the immune system. Vitamin D affects both
the resistance against bacterial infections and autoimmunity. Observational studies show an inverse correlation
between the incidence of some autoimmune disease (inflammatory bowel diseases) and the saturation of the
organism with vitamin D. Genetic association studies and findings from experimental animal studies accent the
important role of vitamin D in the aetiopathogenesis of IBD. Frequent relapse was observed at lower levels of vitamin
D in the blood. Supplementation with vitamin D and especially saturation of its reserves in the body could
represent an innovative approach to the treatment of IBD with minimal economic costs and side effects