Vitamin D Levels in Children With IBD

Research has shown that children with Inflammatory Bowel Disease may have lower levels of vitamin D than healthy children, especially in the winter. Vitamin D is important for growing and maintaining healthy bones throughout life, and this is particularly important, since children with IBD frequently have low bone density. It may also be helpful in the treatment of IBD itself, because it helps reduce inflammation. Vitamin D levels are measured by the amount of 25 OHD in the blood; however, measuring this level on a regular basis is not yet the standard for children with IBD. The purpose of this study is to find the best way to treat low vitamin D levels, and to maintain good vitamin D levels throughout the year. It will also test whether having higher vitamin D levels will improve the bone health of children with IBD, and whether it will help them have milder disease.