Muscle aches could be a vitamin D deficiency. I saw that you take calcium with D, but commonly the amount of vitamin D is not adequate to reverse a deficiency. The form of vitamin D taken also is important. I would suggest that you try 2000 IU of vitamin D in the form of an emulsion for better absorption. A good one is from Biotics Research:
Bio-D-Forte.
Then there is the question of what kind of calcium supplement you take. Most people use the calcium carbonate form just because it is cheaper. Unfortunately, it neutralizes stomach acid and impairs digestion due to improper stomach pH interfering with enzyme function. The form that has good absorption is the citrate. Then, magnesium is required for proper absorption of calcium, so you may do better with a calcium/magnesium blend (usually twice as much calcium as magnesium by weight). I am not sure, but I seem to recall that taking just calcium will result in magnesium deficiency - possibly another source of muscle aches. Note that excess magnesium can cause diarrhea, so it may have to be watched. Results vary with the individual.
I don't know Centrum's formulation, but I seem to remember that it contains just the RDA of vitamins. With Crohn's, absorption of vitamins is commonly impaired, so stronger formulations is a good idea. I also check any vitamins to see how much folic acid they contain. Anything less than 400 mcg is inadequate and 1000mcg is better. My preference is a supplement with no iron. Iron absorption uses the same pathways as copper and zinc, and trying to absorb all three at the same time can overload the pathway, so it is better to take a separate iron supplement at a different meal (assuming that your vitamin supplement contains zinc and copper - which it should). Iron as ferrous citrate or ferrous fumarate/gluconate/maleate is my choice.
Post Edited (Keeper) : 6/9/2009 9:32:51 PM (GMT-6)