A cross-sectional study clarifying the possible connection Between Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Serum Level of Vitamin D

Authors Shimaa Mansour 1 Fatma Elgebaly 1 Nahla Khalaf 1 Shimaa Ebrahim 1 Ahmed Almedin 2 Aymen Elgendy 1 Eslam Habba 1 1 Department of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University 2 Physiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University 10.21608/ajgh.2025.407297.1088 Abstract Background and Aim: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is among the most common chronic functional gastrointestinal disorders, affecting approximately 10%–22% of adults. Vitamin D has been linked to several systemic conditions; however, its exact role in IBS remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the possible association between serum vitamin D levels and IBS. Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 100 participants divided into two groups: Group I included 50 patients diagnosed with IBS according to the Rome IV criteria. At the same time, Group II consisted of 50 healthy subjects serving as controls. Serum vitamin D levels were measured in both groups. Results: A statistically significant difference was observed between the two groups in terms of vitamin D levels (p-value = 0.012). Among IBS patients, 19 (38%) had sufficient vitamin D (>30 ng/mL), while 31 (62%) had subnormal levels. In contrast, 34 (68%) of the control group had sufficient levels, and 16 (32%) were deficient. Conclusions: Vitamin D deficiency may represent a contributing factor in IBS. Therefore, routine assessment of vitamin D levels could be beneficial in patients presenting with IBS.