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Dietary Supplements? New to Crohn's...

Thu, December 03, 2009 10:17 PM

I was diagnosed with Crohns about a month ago. My doctor said its mild to moderate. (I posted my story on here about a week ago) Ive read a few things that said people with Crohns disease dont usually absorb food very well, and I was wondering if that same concept applied to vitamins too. I have not experienced any weight loss, and my doctor did not mention anything about keeping nutrition up, but that seems to be all I keep reading about. Im scared if I dont worry about it now, I may start to get unhealthy. I am taking a multivitamin everyday, but if things arent absorbed well in Crohns patients, it makes me think a vitamin wont get absorbed at all. Would it be best to take a gummy or a liquid shake vitamin?

I have also read that B12 shots are sometimes used to help with absorption, and I was also wondering if that is anything anyone else has done...I know these questions might seem weird, but I am so confused when it comes to Crohns, I just have so many questions!

Thanks,

pirategirl
Joined Nov 24, 2009

Mon, December 07, 2009 7:52 PM

Reply posted for pirategirl.

Thank you guys for your responses.

As far as we know, it is only in my colon, but he has not looked at my small intestine, I only got a colonoscopy. He decided on Crohn's because of my symptoms (mucus, blood, pain) and my colonoscopy showed inflammation throughout my colon that was deeper than the surface, and I had an antibody that is common in Crohn's.

I have contacted the nurse and she said I could get my B12 levels checked at an appointment in February. I have had a lot of fatigue and I feel like I am losing more hair than normal, and both my nails and toenails are hard to grow and easy to break or flake off. So I feel like maybe I am deficicient, but I guess I'll find that out soon enough...

This Crohn's is still very new to me, so thanks for your patience, I will be asking more questions I'm sure...

pirategirl
Joined Nov 24, 2009

Sat, December 05, 2009 8:39 PM

Reply posted for pirategirl.

I agree with Lizzies mom. If your Crohn's is only in your colon and not small intestine or anyplace else usually you can absorb nutrients pretty well as this is done it the small intestine. If your Crohn's is in your small intestine near the iliocecal valve then you may have some problems getting full absorption of B12 and may need supplements.

Some meds. don't change vitamin or mineral needs some change it a lot, like prednisone. To be sure check with the doc. otherwise a plain multivitamin mineral pill is ok. You may not need anything at all.

titan1
Joined Sep 1, 2008

Sat, December 05, 2009 3:35 PM

Reply posted for pirategirl.

I know you have a lot of questions.....there is a lot to know. Unfortunately, much is learned by trial and error. I've been at this CD thing for six years now. (My daughter will be 10 in Jan.)

You need to be super cautious when adding anything into your diet (even supplements). Talk it over with your doctor. He can order vitamin specific bloodwork. Sometimes it isn't a matter of the body not absorbing the vitamins appropriately, but often times the medication that patients take depleting it. Therefore increasing the need for supplements. We recently went through this with my daughter. She had been severely deficient in D3. Her progress was checked through add'l blood samples each month until it reached a healthy level....too much could cause toxicity! (have to be very careful).

Bottom line........talk it over w/your doc. A simple bloodtest could give you a better idea of vitamin status.

Be well.

Lizzies Mom

lizzies mom
Joined Sep 9, 2009

Fri, December 04, 2009 10:14 PM

Reply posted for pirategirl.

As for nutrition it really depends on where your crohns is, if youve had surgery and meds youre on amount of diarrhea etc.

If your Crohns is mostly in your small intestine youll probably have some absorption problems. If youre crohns is just above your iliocecal valve lower right quadrant where small and large intestines meet (and Crohns is on the small intestine side of the valve) or if that area has been resected then youll need extra vitamin B . If you are on prednisone you may need extra calcium, vitamin D, C and foods with more potassium (dont take potassium pills without the doc. knowing you can run into big trouble) and digestible protein like egg whites or chicken.

With diarrhea you also need to drink more water to make up for the water you lose and to protect your kidneys. I just posted this link on another part of the forum but it may help you.

Do the best you can with nutrition and keep a diary so you get to know what agrees with you- were all different.

http://www.ucsfhealth.org/adult/edu/inflammatoryBowelDiseaseNutrition/index.html