Does Your Child Always Complain of Stomach Aches? They Might Be Lacking Vitamin D
A new study found that ninety percent of children suffering from irritable bowel syndrome are lacking vitamin D, compared to just twenty-five percent of the general child population.
(photo: shutterstock)Irritable bowel syndrome doesn't only affect adults, but also children. Its symptoms, similar to those in adults, include frequent stomach pain, diarrhea, or constipation (sometimes both). According to pediatric experts, one in six children suffers from irritable bowel syndrome.
There is something particularly frustrating about a child who repeatedly complains of a stomachache. What can be done, other than offering a hot water bottle for their belly and directing them to 'safer' foods for their current digestive condition? Acetaminophen doesn't work here, and taking them to a doctor won't bring much relief. Doctors know very little about irritable bowel syndrome and certainly don't know how to cure it.
A new study, however, suggests there might be something you can do. The study, published about a week ago in an American medical journal, examined the vitamin D levels of children suffering from irritable bowel syndrome compared to those who do not suffer. The result: More than ninety percent of those with irritable bowel syndrome were lacking vitamin D, compared to only twenty-five percent of healthy children. Additionally, it was found that no other bowel disease is characterized by such a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency: even when comparing children with irritable bowel syndrome to those with diseases like celiac or lactose intolerance, vitamin D deficiency was still more common in children with irritable bowel syndrome.
Of course, all the study found was a correlation: children with irritable bowel syndrome tend to have a deficiency in vitamin D. There is no proof yet that the vitamin deficiency causes irritable bowel syndrome. However, researchers recommend that if your child frequently suffers from intestinal problems and stomach aches, it's worth checking their vitamin D levels. Even if a vitamin supplement won't cure your child, at least the supplement will protect them from other symptoms that might arise from chronic vitamin D deficiency.
