Higher serum vitamin D levels are associated with protective serum cytokine profiles in patients with ulcerative colitis.

•Positive correlation between serum vitamin D (25(OH)D) levels and anti-inflammatory serum cytokine profiles.•Serum cytokine profile IL-4 + IL-10/IL-17A + TNF-α is associated with presence of histologic mucosal healing among ulcerative colitis patients in clinical remission.•Baseline serum cytokine profile IL-4 + IL-10/IL-6 + TNF-α during periods of clinical remission predicts longitudinal risk of relapse in ulcerative colitis patients.