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Do Vitamins and Herbal Suppliments Make your Symptoms Worse?

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 8/20/2018 6:33 PM (GMT 0)
We keep seeing people promote "natural supplements" but from my experience, most of these things have made my symptoms worse. Here is a list of the ones that have made them worse:


Caused increased rectal bleeding:

Vitamin E
Ginkgo Biloba
cayenne
ginseng
Vitiman C (diarrhea)

Caused increased arthritis or uveitis inflammation:

Vitamine A
L-arginine
L-Lysine
Zinc
Calcium

These are just a few suppliments that didn't work for me. Feel free to add more.
Posted 8/20/2018 7:28 PM (GMT 0)
Handyman, just my opinion, a lot of the time the only person that benefits are the ones selling it. I have read many a posts over the years in this forum & the UC forum of people trying various ones & ended very ill as a result. The other problem is adding too many together & not knowing how one will affect the other.

Just my 2 cents worth, lol.
Posted 8/20/2018 8:29 PM (GMT 0)
I have never had any results with them except lightening of my pocket.

/www.forbes.com/sites/alicegwalton/2018/05/28/aside-from-folate-vitamins-appear-largely-ineffective-for-prevention-study-finds/
Posted 8/20/2018 8:42 PM (GMT 0)
Since everyone is different then it is no surprise that the specific supplements you listed don't help and can make you feel worse. Not everyone is compatible with all the meds either, for example some people are allergic to mesalamines. Since I myself have problems with even certain foods aggravating my symptoms, then I am not surprised that certain supplements such as cayenne can give you trouble.

Have you ever had your blood levels of vitamin D checked? Google “vitamin D Crohn's” and you will find dozens of studies indicating how helpful it is. But of course nothing matters unless you find that it helps you.

More and more doctors are making blood tests for vit D as a standard routine. The optimum range is 40-60 ng/ml with over 100 ng/ml flirting with overdose. If you are like most of us then you will likely find that you are deficient.
Posted 8/20/2018 11:24 PM (GMT 0)
IamCurious - Yes, my doctor did test for vitamin D, and the test showed that I was low. He put me on mega doses of vit D. It had no effect on me. I've also tried Magnesium. It had a mild anti anxiety effect, but can make diarrhea worse. (if that's even possible with IBD)
Posted 8/20/2018 11:40 PM (GMT 0)
Magnesium helps me for other health issues but I cannot take more than 250-300 mgs a day otherwise it can encourage loose stools. After all milk of magnesia which is almost pure magnesium is marketed as a laxative and magnesium citrate is a colonoscopy prep.

Same with large amounts of vitamin C.

Post Edited (IamCurious) : 8/20/2018 5:44:56 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 8/21/2018 3:18 AM (GMT 0)
According to blood test, I am low on Vitamin D and Vitamin B12. My primary doctor repeatedly urged me to take both D and B12 supplements. When I took those supplements, there is 50% chance that my symptoms will get worse, i.e. diarrhea, abdominal gas and pain. Those symptoms may not be directly caused by vitamin supplements, which I do not know for sure. But, I think if I have IV injections of vitamins, I should be fine.
Posted 8/29/2018 12:59 PM (GMT 0)
What kind of vitamin D are you taking? Vitamin D3, cholecalciferol, is the natural form and is usually safe as long as you don't overdose. It is very inexpensive and can be purchased anywhere OTC and is produced by being exposed to sunlight. But of course if it bothers you then don't take it.

However there is also artificial vitamin D2, ergocalciferol, which is what a doctor usually prescribes if he finds that you are deficient. This D2 form of vitamin D can have many more undesired side effects and is more easily overdosed.

/www.drugs.com/mtm/vitamin-d2.html
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