A recent study investigated the relationship between gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms and the levels of vitamin D (VD), serotonin (5-HT), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in patients with irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D). Fifty-three IBS-D patients were categorized based on somatization scores. The study found that IBS-D(S+) patients had higher levels of abdominal pain and longer duration of abdominal pain, lower serum VD levels, and increased concentrations of 5-HT and BDNF compared to IBS-D(S-) patients. The GI symptoms in IBS-D(S+) patients were associated with the concentrations of 5-HT, BDNF, and VD. Findings suggest that VD, 5-HT, and BDNF play a role in the clinical and biochemical profiles of IBS-D(S+) patients.
Reference: Linsalata M, Prospero L, Riezzo G, et al. Somatization is associated with altered serum levels of vitamin D, serotonin, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor in patients with predominant diarrhea irritable bowel syndrome. Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2023 Mar;35(3):e14512. doi: 10.1111/nmo.14512. Epub 2022 Dec 15. PMID: 36520620.
