Nutrients (Apr 2021)

Sarcopenia and Vitamin D Deficiency in Patients with Crohn’s Disease: Pathological Conditions That Should Be Linked Together

  • Francesco Palmese,
  • Rossella Del Toro,
  • Giulia Di Marzio,
  • Pierluigi Cataleta,
  • Maria Giulia Sama,
  • Marco Domenicali

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13041378
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 4
p. 1378

Abstract

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Sarcopenia is a prevalent condition in patients with Crohn’s disease (CD), representing an independent predictor factor for the development of major postoperative complications. Thus, a proper assessment of the muscle strength, by using different validated tools, should be deemed an important step of the clinical management of these patients. Patients with CD are frequently malnourished, presenting a high prevalence of different macro- and micro-nutrient deficiencies, including that of vitamin D. The available published studies indicate that vitamin D is involved in the regulation of proliferation, differentiation, and regeneration of muscle cells. The relationship between vitamin D deficiency and sarcopenia has been extensively studied in other populations, with interesting evidence in regards to a potential role of vitamin D supplementation as a means to prevent and treat sarcopenia. The aim of this review was to find studies that linked together these pathological conditions.

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