Background: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is one of the common intestinal diseases reducing quality of life. Its global prevalence varies between 7-21%. Changes in intestinal microbiome, permeability, immune function, motility and visceral sensitivity, brain-intestinal interactions and psychosocial status are suggested to be effective in the pathogenesis of IBS. Variability of symptoms in IBS including chronic abdominal pain with diarrhea or constipation separately or both resulted in different strategies to be carried out in the treatment of the disease.
Summary: In the treatment of IBS patients, a holistic approach consisting of diet, lifestyle changes and drugs is required. Recent studies shown that vitamin D deficiency is common in IBS patients and supplementation of vitamin D can be effective in the treatment of IBS. The immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties of vitamin D and its association with psychosocial status are related to its role in IBS. Since IBS is a stress-sensitive disorder, impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on IBS symptoms can not be ignored. In addition, IBS patients have a high risk of vitamin D deficiency resulting more severe symptoms during the pandemic. In this study, the role of vitamin D in IBS and the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection in IBS patients were reviewed.
Key points: The intervention studies on vitamin D supplementation do not provide strong and generalizable evidence. SARS-CoV-2 infection could effect IBS symptoms. Vitamin D supplementation may be effective for IBS patients during COVID-19 pandemic since IBS patients are prone to infection and have a risk of more severe symptoms.