5 Vitamins You May Need if You Have Crohn’s - Article Health

Get the nutrients you need
In Crohn's disease, damage to the digestive tract, and sometimes the surgery and medication used to treat it, can make it hard for the body to absorb nutrients.

Iron
Crohn's disease can cause bleeding in the intestines, which can result in loss of hemoglobin, the iron-laden protein in red blood cells, and anemia, a red-blood-cell deficiency.

Vitamin B12
Crohn's disease can damage the ileum, the lower part of the intestine necessary for vitamin B12 absorption. Sometimes portions of the ileum have to be surgically removed.


Folic acid is another B vitamin and it's essential for forming new cells.

calcium
Sometimes people with Crohn's have calcium deficiencies because the body can't absorb the nutrient. Lactose intolerance, an inability to digest , is common in Crohn's and doesn't help either.

zinc
Prolonged diarrhea can also deplete zinc reserves. And a zinc deficiency can lead to more diarrhea, creating a "vicious cycle," says Dr. DeCross.

vitamin D
As many as 68% of people with Crohn's may have vitamin D deficiencies, according to the CCFA, which can result in bone pain and weak muscles. Vitamin D is , but is produced by sun exposure and can be obtained in a supplement. "Vitamin D is frequently deficient in patients with Crohn's disease," says Dr. Kaur. "Every patient who has inflammatory bowel disease should have a vitamin D level checked at least annually and supplemented as needed."


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