Supplement guidance - probiotics, omega-3s, turmeric/curcumin?

Hi, I am new to this forum... UC diagnosed July 2014 at age 33. Runs in my family. Have been on Apriso and Canasa since diagnosis. Ideally, I only take 2 Apriso/day when in remission, but have been in a mild-to-moderate flare since February and on 4 Apriso + 2 Canasa a day for last month due to worsening issue. 2x Prednisone taper in last 3 months (incl. last week) and my doc is now recommending moving me to Imuran. Before jumping drug classes, I am trying last ditch efforts to get myself in better shape with current drugs.

Now to my subject title, what are people's thoughts on if/how Probiotics, Omega-3s, Tumeric help?? I have been taking Dr. Mercola's Complete Probiotics since June and just upped to 6 pills per day for last few days since I was still having issues post-Prednisone. Recommended dosage is 2 per day, but since taking 6 I have been able to eat more, have more bowel warning and less blood. Looking to add Tumeric or a Curcumin supplement. Welcome thoughts on this. Also want to start taking Omega-3s regularly. Should I do all three? Tumeric tea vs. supplement?

Just want to get my life back!

There's a big debate about whether tumeric or curcumin is more effective, as well as a debate about the bioavalability of each. I agree with Isleman that the easiest approach is to take both. On probiotics, they help some, but which ones help varies. I've had success with homemade yogurt and keffir, some do better with sauerkraut. Try different ones for a week and see which helps.

On omega 3, I prefer to get it from food. Sardines are an easy and good source.

I am allergic to the most common meds so I manage my ulcerative colitis with diet and supplements. Diet seems to be more important while supplements help me recover more quickly after eating something bad.

IMO everyone should keep a food diary. Most veterans with this disease, even those who do not believe in diet modification, will admit that certain foods aggravate their symptoms. Two very common food triggers are gluten and dairy. I suggest avoiding gluten for 2-3 weeks to see if your symptoms lessen. Then try the same for dairy.

Check out our signatures to see what supplements we take. Some popular supplements are vitamin D, fish oil, PROBIOTICS, and a soluble fiber such as psyllium. Get your blood levels of vitamin D checked.. There are many threads in this forum explaining why.

Probiotics are an individual thing, everyone is different. They work for most of us but you need to determine for yourself which ones are most effective. You will find many threads discussing VSL#3 which is one of the most popular.

I am lucky that most of the supplements I take to remain in remission also happen to be very healthy. For example, curcumin and fish oil. Of course not all supplements help everyone (see the above post about fish oil), you need to discover what supplements help you individually. Just as you need to discover which meds are most effective for you. But for me fish oil keeps my joints greased (much less stiffness), among other things such as lowering my blood triglycerides and inflammation, as well as helping me maintain UC remission.

This is from the U.S. National Institute of Health (NIH):
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1312317
CONCLUSIONS: Four months of diet supplementation with fish oil in patients with inflammatory bowel disease resulted in reductions in rectal dialysate leukotriene B4 levels, improvements in histologic findings, and weight gain

As many have said everyone is different.
For me, VSL#3 is a disaster, and lacto ferment pickles are worse.
Curcumin thins my blood and I suspect everyones, got a 1/4 inch cut and bled all over the place.
Fish oil in excess might be a problem, it never did me any good, also thins blood.
Old Mike
medicalxpress.com/news/2013-10-excess-omega-fatty-acids-negative.html