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Vitamins for Crohn's Disease

During flares of your Crohn’s disease, you may not be able to eat much healthy food. That means your body won’t be getting enough healthy nutrition. When you don’t get enough of certain vitamins and minerals, your doctor might say you have a deficiency. Supplements can help. And your doctor can tell you which ones you need, based on how Crohn's affects your body and which drugs you take.

Crohn’s and Your Body

Your condition can make you feel sick and tired because you can’t eat the right foods. It may affect how your medication works, too, and it can stop kids from growing normally.You may not get enough nutrients because:

You don’t want to eat. This can happen because of pain, diarrhea, anxiety, and changes in taste.

You take prescription medication for Crohn’s. Some drugs make it harder to absorb nutrients.You’re bleeding inside your body. The damage to your intestines can cause blood loss over time. This could lower your iron levels and lead to anemia

Nutrients You May Miss

With Crohn's, you’re more likely to have lower levels of:

1. Vitamin B12

If you have inflammation or have had surgery in the lower part of your small intestine, you may not absorb enough of this. Your doctor may prescribe shots or pills.

Food sources of vitamin B12

Beef: Beef liver, ground beef, top sirloin
Dairy: Cheese, low-fat milk, yogurt,
Fish and seafood: Clams, haddock, salmon, trout, tuna
Poultry: Chicken

2. Folic Acid

Some Crohn's drugs, like methotrexate and sulfasalazine, lower your body’s levels of folic acid. Your doctor may have you take a folate supplement.

Food sources of folate and folic acid:

Beef: Beef liver, ground beef
Fish and seafood: Dungeness crab, halibut
Fruit: Banana, cantaloupe, papaya
Poultry: Chicken
Veggies: Asparagus, avocado, black eyed peas, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, green peas, kidney beans, mustard greens, spinach, turnip greens

3. Calcium

Steroids for Crohn's disease can weaken your bones. If your body can't digest milk or milk products, you're even more likely to be short on calcium. Your doctor may tell you to take supplements to keep your bones strong and prevent other problems.

Food sources of calcium:

Dairy: Cheese, cottage cheese, ice cream, milk, sour cream, yogurt
Fish: Salmon, sardines
Veggies: Bok choy, broccoli, kale, turnip greens

4. Vitamin D

It helps your body absorb calcium for strong bones, but people with Crohn's disease often don’t have enough. Your doctor may tell you to take a daily supplement.

Food sources of vitamin D:

Cereal: Vitamin D fortified
Dairy: Milk (nonfat, reduced-fat and whole -- vitamin D fortified), Swiss cheese
Fish: salmon, sardines, swordfish, tuna
Meat: Liver
Orange juice: Vitamin D fortified

5. Vitamins A, E, and K

Surgery on your intestines can make it hard for your body to absorb fats. That lowers your levels of these vitamins.

Food sources of vitamin A

Eggs
Fruit: Apricots, cantaloupe, mangos
Fish and poultry: Chicken, herring, Sockeye salmon, tuna
Dairy: Ice cream, fat-free or skim milk with vitamin A, ricotta cheese, yogurt
Veggies: Baked beans, black-eyed peas, carrots, spinach, summer squash, sweet peppers, sweet potatoes

Food sources of vitamin E

Fruit: Kiwi, mango
Nuts and nut butters: peanuts, almonds, hazelnuts, peanut butter
Oils: corn oil, safflower oil, soybean oil, sunflower oil, wheat germ oil
Veggies: broccoli, spinach, tomato

Food sources of vitamin K

Beef and pork: Ground beef, ham
Dairy: 2% milk, cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese
Fruit: Blueberries, grapes, pomegranate
Fish, seafood, and poultry: Chicken breast, chicken liver, shrimp, sockeye salmon
Veggies: Broccoli, carrots, collards, edamame, figs, kale, okra, spinach, turnip greens

6. Iron

Inflammation from your Crohn’s may keep your body from using iron as well as it should. And blood loss from ulcers may cause you to lose iron. In either case, your doctor may tell you to take iron tablets, liquid, or infusions.Food sources of iron

Dairy: Cheddar cheese, cottage cheese, milk
Fish, seafood, and poultry: Chicken, oysters, sardines, turkey
Fruits: Cantaloupe, raisins
Nuts: Cashews, pistachios
Veggies: Broccoli, chickpeas, green peas, kidney beans, lentils, mushrooms, potatoes, rice, spinach, tomatoes, white beans

7. Potassium, magnesium, and zinc

Your doctor may suggest a daily supplement to raise your levels.Food sources of potassium

Dairy: Cheese, soymilk, yogurt
Fruits: Apple, apricot, banana, cantaloupe, prunes, raisins
Beef: Sirloin
Fish, seafood, and poultry: Chicken, salmon, tuna,
Oil: Canola, corn, olive
Veggies: Acorn squash, asparagus broccoli, kidney beans, potato, soy beans, spinach, tomato

Food sources of magnesium

Dairy: Part skim mozzarella, soymilk, yogurt
Fruits: Apple, banana, raisins
Nuts: Almonds, cashews, peanuts, peanut butter
Beef: Ground beef
Fish, seafood, and poultry: Chicken, halibut, salmon
Dairy: Milk, yogurt
Veggies: Avocado, black beans, broccoli, carrots, edamame, kidney beans, potato, spinach

Food sources of zinc

Beef and pork: Beef chuck roast, pork chop
Dairy: Cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese, low-fat or nonfat milk, Swiss cheese, yogurt
Fish, seafood, and poultry: crab, dark meat chicken, flounder, lobster, oysters, sole
Nuts: Almonds, cashews
Veggies: Baked beans, chickpeas, green peas, kidney beans

Foods or Supplements?

Almost any diet expert will tell you it's better to get vitamins and minerals from foods than from a pill. But if you have Crohn's disease, damage to parts of your intestines makes it harder to absorb or get enough of the nutrients you need. Certain healthy foods, like high-fiber nuts and seeds, may trigger symptoms.Crohn's -- especially when it's active -- can make your body work harder, too. So you may need more calories and nutrients than other people. In these cases, supplements can help fill the gaps.

Work With Your Doctor

Don't make the supplements decision by yourself. Talk to your doctor first. While they can help you be better nourished, some can affect the way your Crohn's drugs work or make your symptoms worse.Your doctor may want to test your levels of iron, vitamin D, vitamin B12, and other vitamins and minerals. What you need may also depend on where the damage is in your intestines.

Together, you can decide which supplements could help you feel better.

Vitamins for Crohn's Disease

Nutrients You May Miss

1. Vitamin B12

2. Folic Acid

3. Calcium

4. Vitamin D

5. Vitamins A, E, and K

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