Health in General

Vitamin D is vital for immune health. It has been suggested that the "seasonal flu" that appears every winter is due to generally low vitamin D levels in people every winter. Crohn's interferes with vitamin absorption generally and vitamin D which is absorbed in the small intestine is particularly hard hit. To raise your vitamin D stores you need to take 2000 IU daily, but you may want to take more for a short time to boost your stores. I would recommend a product by Biotics Research which is called Bio D forte (see: Biotics Research

It seems odd that you are on folic acid, but not B12. Generally B12 is more likely to be a problem in Crohn's. Is this your doctor's suggestion or did you add folic acid yourself? Has the doctor done blood tests for vitamin/mineral levels? I was going to assume that your doctor had tested for iron, but I began to wonder if that were so? In any event, many people find ferrous sulphate to be very hard on their gut. It is much better to get a chelated form like ferrous citrate because it is easier to absorb and not so hard on your gut.

Finally, you don't mention taking any probiotics. They are one of the more useful things you can do for your gut, if you get the right ones. The most effective ones by the results of actual testing on people with intestinal problems are: Culturelle, Align and VSL#3. The first two are in many drug stores - don't know about VSL#3 though.

Isergodur (Ice person?) the joints, sores and liver problems all should clear up when/if they get your Crohn's (UC?) symptoms under control. Are you taking any supplements/vitamins/probiotics on your own or your doctor's recommendation?

keeper i have never been advised by my consultant regarding vitamins priobiotics etc i do take priobiotics 1st thing in the mornngs always as regards to folic acid that was to be recommended by my consultant to take 2x weekly to cut down the side effects of the methotrexate i was on injections weekly then asked to be put onto oral at the moment i just take ferrous sulphate and vitamin c thats why i asked if a food sipplement was necessary for when i dont have much of an appetite!your advice is truly appreciated thank you.

Isergodur - I would think that a probiotic would be really useful. I don't know what is available where you are - I usually suggest Culturelle or Align or VSL#3 - but they are mostly available in the US and UK. I can't see a problem using probiotics while taking liver treatment, but you should ask your doctor. It really can help your gut to quiet down.

My second impulse would be vitamin D, but that really is a possible conflict with liver treatment. Maybe wait until you are off your liver regime.

Finally, due to the frequency of problems with B12, a sublingual (under the tongue) B12 supplement would be smart. A prolonged deficiency of B12 will cause pernicious anemia. There is no cure for that and it would require B12 injections for the rest of your life. Again, ask your doctor.

Once you are off the liver treatment, you really should be taking a multivitamin because Crohn's commonly causes deficiencies due to diarrhea. In addition, extra calcium and magnesium (to avoid bone problems due to steroids like prednisone), extra (beyond what is in the multivitamin): vitamin E (helps reduce systemic inflammation and Crohn's-related issues like skin, eye, stomach - reflux, throat and sinus problems), vitamin C - in a neutralized form like calcium ascorbate (similar to vitamin E's action), vitamin D (commonly deficient and insufficiently fortified in foods) and possibly vitamin K (may need a doctor's prescription - deficiency is associated with kidney stones and poor absorption of calcium). Iron is another common deficiency in Crohn's due to absorption problems - your doctor should be checking your iron levels by blood tests.