Vitamin D3 ameliorates inflammation and autonomic dysfunction in a rat model of reflux esophagitis via modulation of IL-6 and TNF-α.

ABSTRACT: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and its manifestation as reflux esophagitis (RE) involves mucosal inflammation and autonomic dysfunction. Vitamin D3 deficiency is increasingly implicated in gastrointestinal inflammation and immune imbalance. This study investigated the therapeutic and prophylactic effects of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 on esophageal inflammation and autonomic nervous system disruption in a non-surgical rat model of RE. RE was induced via intermittent fasting and refeeding. Rats received either no treatment, prophylactic vitamin D3 (1250 IU/day pre- and post-induction), or therapeutic vitamin D3 (post-induction only). We assessed esophageal histopathology, immunohistochemical expression of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and transforming growth factor β (TGF-β), serum i

SUBMITTER: Abdelmonem SM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12638938 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature