Vitamin D associates with improved quality of life in participants with irritable bowel syndrome: outcomes from a pilot trial.

Background: Vitamin D deficiency has been associated or implicated with the pathophysiology of the gastrointestinal conditions inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer, as well as with depression. No trials or epidemiology studies to date have investigated a link with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). A single case report has suggested a benefit in IBS of vitamin D supplementation.

Serum complement in chronic liver disease.

Total serum haemolytic complement activity (CH(50)) and the serum concentrations of both the third and fourth components of the complement system (C3 and C4) have been measured in 29 control subjects, 92 patients with chronic hepatocellular disease, and eight patients with large duct biliary tract obstruction. The mean C4 concentration was reduced in all types of chronic liver disease studied. However, the mean CH(50) and C3 values were increased in compensated primary biliary cirrhosis, were relatively normal in non-cirrhotic chronic active hepatitis, and were decreased in cryptogenic cirrhosis, particularly when ascites was present.