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  • Scott Adams
    Scott Adams

    The Hidden Role of Vitamin D in Celiac Disease and Other Chronic Inflammatory Conditions

    Reviewed and edited by a celiac disease expert.

    By supporting epithelial integrity, balancing immune responses, and working with the microbiome, vitamin D helps the body resist chronic inflammation and disease.

    The Hidden Role of Vitamin D in Celiac Disease and Other Chronic Inflammatory Conditions - Sunshine through my body by Thomas Frost Jensen is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

    Celiac.com 09/29/2025 - Vitamin D has long been associated with healthy bones and the regulation of calcium in the body. However, scientists now understand that its role extends far beyond skeletal health. Almost every cell in the body has receptors for vitamin D, meaning it can influence hundreds of processes. Vitamin D is created in the skin when exposed to sunlight and can also be consumed in foods or supplements. After being processed in the liver and kidneys, it becomes active and influences cell growth, immunity, and the integrity of tissue barriers such as skin and gut linings.

    Deficiency in vitamin D has been linked to autoimmune diseases, heart disease, metabolic syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, and celiac disease. Researchers are increasingly focusing on how vitamin D may help prevent or manage these chronic conditions by strengthening epithelial barriers and regulating immune responses.

    Vitamin D and Skin Health

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    The skin is both a producer and a target of vitamin D. Active vitamin D helps skin cells mature properly, strengthens the outermost protective layer, and regulates proteins that keep skin cells tightly connected. These actions prevent harmful microbes and allergens from entering the body. In conditions such as atopic dermatitis (eczema) and psoriasis, the skin barrier becomes weakened. Low vitamin D levels are common in people with these conditions, and deficiency may worsen symptoms.

    Research shows that vitamin D reduces inflammation by calming overactive immune cells and increasing antimicrobial peptides that protect against bacteria. Clinical studies indicate that supplementation can lessen the severity of eczema and psoriasis, especially when combined with standard treatments. Topical vitamin D creams are also widely used for psoriasis, where they help restore normal skin growth and reduce redness and scaling.

    Vitamin D and Cardiovascular Health

    Beyond its skin benefits, vitamin D is also active in the heart and blood vessels. Cells lining blood vessels have vitamin D receptors, which allow the vitamin to regulate blood pressure, prevent excess inflammation, and improve vessel flexibility. Deficiency has been associated with high blood pressure, heart attacks, and strokes.

    Studies in both animals and humans show that vitamin D can lower blood pressure by reducing overactivity in a hormone system that controls fluid balance. It may also improve cholesterol levels, support insulin function, and reduce oxidative stress. However, large trials on vitamin D supplementation have shown mixed results. Some groups, such as the elderly or those with severe deficiency, appear to benefit more, while others show little change. This suggests that vitamin D may be most important in correcting deficiencies rather than providing extra benefit in already healthy people.

    Vitamin D and the Gut Barrier

    The intestines serve as one of the body’s most important protective barriers. They allow nutrients to pass through while keeping harmful microbes and toxins out. This barrier relies on specialized proteins that seal cells together and immune cells that respond appropriately to threats. When this system fails, the result is often inflammation and chronic disease.

    Vitamin D helps maintain this balance by supporting tight junction proteins, preventing excessive cell death, and encouraging healthy regeneration. It also shapes the immune response in the gut, encouraging tolerance instead of constant inflammation. Importantly, vitamin D affects the composition of gut bacteria, helping maintain a diverse and balanced microbiome. Studies in animals have shown that supplementing with vitamin D can repair damaged intestinal barriers, reduce harmful immune activity, and restore healthy gut structure.

    Vitamin D in Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Celiac Disease

    Inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, as well as celiac disease, all involve damage to the intestinal lining. This damage allows antigens and microbes to enter the body, fueling inflammation. Research shows that people with these conditions frequently have low vitamin D levels, and that deficiency is linked with more severe disease and higher relapse rates.

    Animal experiments demonstrate that vitamin D supplementation can prevent gluten-induced damage in celiac-like conditions by restoring the tightness of intestinal barriers and reducing immune cell infiltration. In humans, people with celiac disease often improve their vitamin D levels once they start a gluten-free diet, which suggests that healing the gut improves absorption. Supplementation can further support bone strength and well-being in these patients. For inflammatory bowel disease, vitamin D supplementation has been shown to reduce inflammatory markers and lower relapse risk, though results vary depending on baseline levels and dosage.

    Why This Matters for People with Celiac Disease

    For people with celiac disease, the key to managing symptoms is strict avoidance of gluten. However, even with a gluten-free diet, many continue to face challenges such as weakened bones, persistent fatigue, and ongoing gut inflammation. Vitamin D may offer an additional layer of support by helping to restore barrier function in the intestine, calming inflammation, and strengthening the immune system.

    Maintaining healthy vitamin D levels could reduce complications, improve quality of life, and possibly make the gut more resilient to accidental gluten exposure. While more studies are needed, the existing evidence suggests that vitamin D should be considered an important part of comprehensive care in celiac disease, alongside diet and other medical strategies.

    Conclusion

    Vitamin D is far more than a bone-strengthening nutrient. It is a powerful regulator of the skin, cardiovascular system, and intestinal barrier. By supporting epithelial integrity, balancing immune responses, and working with the microbiome, vitamin D helps the body resist chronic inflammation and disease. For those with conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, heart disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and especially celiac disease, ensuring adequate vitamin D intake may be an important step toward better health and long-term management.

    Read more: preprints.org


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    DonnaNM

    Hi Scott, 

    Thanks for this article on vitamin D.

    Were there any indications of recurring feet nerve pain from reduced vitamin D?  This was one of my issues before my Celiac diagnosis. I increased my Vitamin D to 10,000 per day and then hit a level of 102.  My feet were much better. However, my doctor told me to reduce my Vitamin D to get below 100.  Now my nerve pain is back.  I'm interested in your thoughts. 

    Thanks again for all the great information I get from your website. 

    All my best,

    Donna F.

     

     

     

     

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    chrisinpa

    Interesting observation of the possible association of a symptom that can be affected either positively or negatively by minerals or nutrients.  I have some numbness and tingling on my right foot apparently the result of neuropathy.  From what I've read there can be a number of causes and vitamin B12 deficiency and supplementation has helped some people. It wIll be interesting to see what Scott has to say.  In my opinion if something makes something seem better keep doing it or vice versa. The big question is "why".

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    chrisinpa

    BTW.....Other than vitamin D supplementation,  it's amazing how much vitamin D levels in the body can be increased by even short periods of sunlight exposure.    I have to ask if there is a limit to how much vitamin D would be harmful?   Apparently there are some supplements that will be stored in the body and above a certain level can be toxic.....and some vitamins/minerals that are disposed of by what the body doesn't need or use.

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    DonnaNM

    After understanding all the deficiencies one can get from having Celiac disease, I take B12, but still have nerve pain.  It's frustrating. 

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    chrisinpa
    41 minutes ago, DonnaNM said:

    After understanding all the deficiencies one can get from having Celiac disease, I take B12, but still have nerve pain.  It's frustrating. 

     

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    chrisinpa

    Bingo.  I guess we all do what we can with what we know and hope for the best.     Would be nice if the human body had a reset button and we could put in a new operating system.   LOL

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    chrisinpa
    2 minutes ago, chrisinpa said:

    Bingo.  I guess we all do what we can with what we know and hope for the best.     Would be nice if the human body had a reset button and we could put in a new operating system.   LOL

    BTW.....I am going to check out a new med being advertised,,,,,Nervive.

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    chrisinpa
    20 minutes ago, chrisinpa said:

    BTW.....I am going to check out a new med being advertised,,,,,Nervive.

    Nervive Nerve Relief Review: Is It Safe and Effective? - WellnessVerge

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    DonnaNM

    Thanks for that information.  I'll check it out.

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    chrisinpa
    44 minutes ago, DonnaNM said:

    Thanks for that information.  I'll check it out.

    You betcha!

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    Scott Adams

    The most common nutrient deficiencies associated with celiac disease that may lead to testing for the condition include iron, vitamin D, folate (vitamin B9), vitamin B12, calcium, zinc, and magnesium.  Unfortunately many doctors, including my own doctor at the time, don't do extensive follow up testing for a broad range of nutrient deficiencies, nor recommend that those just diagnosed with celiac disease take a broad spectrum vitamin/mineral supplement, which would greatly benefit most, if not all, newly diagnosed celiacs.

    Because of this it took me decades to overcome a few long-standing issues I had that were associated with gluten ataxia, for example numbness and tingling in my feet, and muscle knots--especially in my shoulders an neck. Only long term extensive supplementation has helped me to resolve these issues. I don't recommend really high doses of vitamin D for more than short time periods, as it can build up in your system.

    The supplements I take daily, but remember, everyone has different needs:

     

     

     

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  • About Me

    Scott Adams

    Scott Adams was diagnosed with celiac disease in 1994, and, due to the nearly total lack of information available at that time, was forced to become an expert on the disease in order to recover. In 1995 he launched the site that later became Celiac.com to help as many people as possible with celiac disease get diagnosed so they can begin to live happy, healthy gluten-free lives.  He is co-author of the book Cereal Killers, and founder and publisher of the (formerly paper) newsletter Journal of Gluten Sensitivity. In 1998 he founded The Gluten-Free Mall which he sold in 2014. Celiac.com does not sell any products, and is 100% advertiser supported.


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