News
Vitamin D linked to immune response to gut microbiome in IBD
Vitamin D supplementation may help shape how the immune system responds to gut bacteria in people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), according to the latest research. The study findings offer new insights into how the immune system and gut microbiome interact in this chronic condition and point to potential new therapeutic strategies. IBD, which includes Crohn’s disease and
ulcerative colitis, affects millions of people worldwide. The condition is driven in part by the immune system reacting to normally harmless bacteria in the gut, reflecting a breakdown in what is known as immune tolerance. While many current therapies focus on reducing inflammation, less is understood about how to restore balanced interactions between the immune system and the gut microbiome. “Vitamin D may help rebalance how the immune
system sees gut bacteria,” said lead author John Mark Gubatan, M.D., a gastroenterologist at Mayo Clinic in Florida. “That’s an important step toward understanding how we might restore immune tolerance in IBD.” In the study, researchers evaluated 48 people
researchers also observed changes in immune signalling pathways and increased activity of regulatory immune cells that help control inflammation. Together, these findings suggest vitamin D
may help promote a more balanced, protective immune response to the gut microbiome. Vitamin D supplementation was also associated with improvements in disease activity scores and a stool-based marker of inflammation. However, the researchers emphasise the study was small and not designed to establish cause and effect. “We saw encouraging signals, but this was not a
with IBD who had low vitamin D levels. Participants received weekly vitamin D supplements for 12 weeks. Blood and stool samples collected before and after treatment were analysed using advanced sequencing to map interactions between immune responses and the gut microbiome. Vitamin D supplementation was associated with
increased levels of immunoglobulin A (IgA), which is typically linked to protective immune responses, and decreased levels of immunoglobulin G (IgG), more often associated with inflammation. The
randomised trial,” Dr. Gubatan said. “These findings need to be confirmed in larger, controlled studies.” The researchers caution that patients should
not change their vitamin D use without medical guidance.
“Vitamin D is widely available, but dosing needs
to be individualised, especially in patients with chronic inflammation,” Dr. Gubatan added. “Patients should work with their healthcare team.” The Mayo Clinic–led study was published in Cell
Reports Medicine:
https://www.cell.com/cell- reports-medicine/home
NICE publishes its first kidney cancer guideline
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published its first comprehensive clinical guideline on kidney cancer. This landmark guideline follows years of campaigning, evidence gathering, and expert input from Kidney Cancer UK – whose clinical advisors worked closely with NHS England and NICE to demonstrate the need for clearer diagnostic standards, greater use of biopsy, and more consistent national care pathways. The guideline introduces major changes to
how suspected renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is diagnosed and managed across the NHS, including a significant expansion in the use of renal biopsies to confirm diagnoses earlier, reduce unnecessary surgery, and improve outcomes for people with kidney cancer. Its publication comes as Kidney Cancer UK’s latest annual patient survey highlights the urgent need for earlier detection and improved pathways. Kidney cancer is now the sixth most common cancer in the UK, with around 13,800 new cases and 4,700 deaths each year. Until now, many patients have had part or all their kidney removed without a biopsy beforehand, meaning the true nature of the lesion is only confirmed after surgery. Kidney
removal can have long-term consequences for health and quality of life. The new guideline aims to ensure that more patients receive an accurate diagnosis before any surgical intervention is considered. Currently, around 600 people a year with small renal lesions (4 cm or smaller) undergo a biopsy. NICE’s new recommendations are expected to increase this to around 1,200 biopsies annually, potentially halving the number of people who undergo surgery for benign lesions. Key recommendations in the new guideline
include: l Offer biopsy to people with suspected RCC who have a renal lesion 4 cm or smaller, where a tissue sample can be safely obtained.
l Consider biopsy for larger lesions when imaging suggests they may be benign, before non-surgical treatments such as ablation, or when a patient requests one.
l Ensure all patients have access to a clinical nurse specialist with kidney cancer expertise, providing personalised care plans, follow-up schedules, and clear points of contact.
l Provide guidance on diagnosing and managing heritable genetic conditions that increase kidney cancer risk, including Von Hippel–Lindau disease (VHL).
l Strengthen patient information and support, ensuring people affected by kidney cancer receive consistent, high-quality care throughout their treatment pathway.
In response to the implementation of the new guidelines, Andrew Greaves, General Manager at Kidney Cancer UK, said: “These new recommendations will help transform the diagnostic pathway, reduce avoidable harm, and give patients a clearer, more consistent standard of care. This is a vital step forward, and we are proud to have played a central role in driving this change.” Visit:
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng256
May 2026 I
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