Multivitamins, are they really good for us?

My gastro specialist said NO multi vitamins especially those with minerals- My body stores them instead of using or processing them and I become toxic.

Carlie

I take many vitamins and tons of supplements but I would rather not debate you here. I agree that they can be misused especially if not balanced correctly. I recommend getting your blood levels of vitamins and minerals checked. Apparently when I was flaring I had severe malabsorption issues because my blood counts were so fouled up that I was referred to an oncologist to check for lymphoma. Blood levels can detect deficiencies of vitamin D, B12, iron, folic acid, and probably more. My vitamin/mineral levels returned to normal quickly after my flare ended.

Vitamin D in particular is important. It is one vitamin that is not obtained mostly thru food but from sunlight. Get your blood levels checked because low levels are associated with IBD symptoms.

Attached is an interesting health chart. You can click on the plus sign to expand it. The last line on the chart shows that 99 percent of rickets can be prevented if your blood serum level of vitamin D is at least 18. Up until only a few years ago that was all that vitamin D was thought to be good for.

The 2nd line of the chart says that a blood level of 34 will help prevent 30 percent of breast cancer and a level of 52 will prevent 83 percent of breast cancer incidence.

A level of 37 will prevent 30 percent of heart attacks for men. Optimum blood serum levels for all diseases should be in the 40-60 range, or maybe even 50-70 range. Over 100 can indicate overdose, and vitamin D is one of the few vitamins that can be overdosed. Lifeguards who work in the sun all day naturally have numbers in the 70's, but most people are grossly deficient, even those without IBD. That is why it is not a bad idea to get your blood levels for vitamin D checked regularly.

Unfortunately this chart is not yet updated with the latest research about IBD. But you can google 'vitamin D ulcerative colitis' and see what is available.

www.grassrootshealth.net/diseasepreventionchart.pdf

I don't take a multi-vitamin. Whatever you see in my signature, that's what I take. I take alot of natural herbs.

If youre having D symptoms, you absolutely need a multivitamin.
When your colon is in overdrive you lose a lot of the nutrients that you eat, therefore, it's crucial to supplement when in a flare. If you are in full remission, well thats a different story...

In a perfect world, I would agree with you about not needing multi vitamins. However, from my research, our food chain is highly suspicious, and how do we really know that what we're eating (no matter the diet, where food's bought, etc.) especially when as Dsm suggested we're probably not breaking down nutrients properly?

My compromise is a multi vitamin from Natural Grocers that's iron free and was recommended by the nutrititionist there. They offered one meeting with her at no charge, and was very helpful. I haven't seen her again but am generally following her plan. I don't know if other Natural Grocers stores offer this, but it might be helpful to check if there is one near for anyone who is looking for advice.

Most nutrients are absorbed in the small intestine. That is why children with Crohn's have stunted growth while those with UC do not. But blood analysis indicated that I still had numerous deficiencies from excess bleeding and D.

BTW if multi pills are hard on your stomach then you may want to try liquid vitamins.

Post Edited (BabeintheWoods) : 3/11/2012 8:48:55 AM (GMT-6)

I take multivitamin, plus a few of the vitamins and minerals individually. The idea behind multivitamin is as insurance. If my body needs it, it will pick it up, else it will excrete. I use caution when I am taking fat soluble vitamins. I take Vitamin D 2000 IU 5 days a week, Vit E 400IU and Vitamin A 10000IU (palmitate form) on Mon and Thurs. In July, when my annual physical is scheduled, then I plan to check serum levels of all (as many as possible) vitamins and minerals.
I am planning to supplement Magnesium 400mg daily for my migraine and Selenium+Zinc as antioxidant.

The second idea behind this usage is, although I try to eat balanced food, here in the US, most vegetables may look fresh and all but but being GMOed, I am not too sure of their nutritional value. So if at all, I am lacking any nutrition, a multivitamin a day should cover the deficiency.

InSoFla said...
I am a strong believer in LIQUID vitamins and LIQUID minerals, and use them daily myself. Liquid because it doesn't add unnecessary work for the stomach to have to break down anything.

Whoever told you this lacks basic understanding of a dosage form. A tablet doesn't add any work for the stomach as its formulated in such a way that as soon as it mixes with the gastric juice, the tablet dissociates. It makes no difference between liquid and solid form of the dosage form unless the drug is more stable in one form than the other or due to patient compliance. I prefer tablet form because, less chances of contamination and additives (preservative/color/flavor etc). This is a tiny component of what I learned in the pharmacy school.

I would suggest that people who cant eat their vitamins then maybe juice vegetables to get them. I would be careful juicing friuits as they can be very tough on the gut. I add a little fresh ginger to my fresh veggie juice to give it a little more flavor. I juice anything from fresh organic greens to carrots. I do agree there are good supplements we need to take. I personally take psyllium seed power and probiotics. At the same time I eat good yogurt and eat fermented foods in the likes of saurkraut and pickles.

Anything that is not absorbed in the small intestine will then more to ther colon and cause gas and irritation. There is factual info that minerals in the multivitamins especially will cause irritation not to mention others. I do understand that the concern here is ones who cannot eat enough to get your vitamins so thereford a multivitamin in either pill or liquid form. I do recall that if your not taking it with food then most of it doesnt have anything to bind to and therefore be absorbed into your blood stream. This is why you see a noticeable change in urin color after taking them which is most of it being disregarded by your body as it doesnt know what to do with it as it is not real food. I am sure that if you ate some lean grass fed organic red meat you would absorb much more iron than you would and at the same time not aggrevate your colon in turn. I am not trying to tell anyone what to do but only trying help and maybe have you reconsider your approach on the issue. If you have alot of iussues that are not calming down maybe a simpler approach and eliminating variables would help things. This is all I was trying to convey. Sometimes you to use the old addage my Dad always remonded me of when I got in the way of myself. KISS he would say...."Keep it simple stupid". I would always say yeah your right.

Steve

---------
Male 46 DX'd Mild Lower left UC 4cm section Feb 2 2012
1st month after DX Asacol 800 HD 2 pills 2 times a day.

Currently taking Asacol 800 HD 1 pill 2 times a day.
Natren brand probiotics
Psyllium seed powder ( started 3/8/12)
Prayer
One months worth of saccharomyces bouldarii but will start taking it again soon with the psyllium seed powed and Natren probiotics.

No blood in stools now and have normal bowel movement at most 2 times a day. Most of the time once in the am. Asacol seems to work but for how long.

Diet consists of mostly an organic Paleo with some good organic natural cheese, Milk, eggs and yogurt. Rice and small amounts of pasta also.
Alot of potatoes but never chips or french fries and most importantly never consume unfiltered tap water but instead good bottled electrolyte water.
I cook with filtered tap water and add real sea salt for magnesium.

Thoeries:
I releive beleive the issue is a inbalance of good/bad bacteria for whatever reason in our guts allowing this to happen.
I also beleive this Fecal transplant thing has has alot of validity to it.

----------

I agree and am only makikng suggestions. I do realize that costs and availability and ones particular condition applies. It is more food for thought really andjust am always trying to help in anyway I can.

As far as cost for prescriptions even when covered by insurance it is very erxpensive here. I payed 120.00 dollars for 120 asacol hd 800 pills and thank god I am now on half that dose which totals to 60.00 usd a month for me. As far as food costs yes it is just a little bit more for the organic here which not to much of a price hike as compared. When I say grass fed meat I only use it as a benchmark for probobly the best way to get the iron if you can do it that way of course.

Steve

I take an iron-free multivitamin. I find that it really helps in terms of energy levels and to be honest i don't think that today's botched up food supply is sufficient to cover our vitamin and mineral needs. Also the guidelines for the management of IBD recommend that a multivitamin (iron-free) be taken every day. We have a chronic disease and our needs are higher so we can try to meet them using diet alone but im not sure we can do that regularly unless we spent the whole day in the kitchen cooking stuff. i live in Victoria -Australia and findind organic things here is ridiculously hard. The price is also much higher. Finding grass-fed beef is ridiculously difficult.