Multivitamins

Sounds like the multivitamin is causing issues, based on what you describe. What's the brand and dosage?

I saw two versions of multivitamins from Universal Nutrition. Which one are you taking?

The first formula seems relatively harmless:
https://www.universalnutrition.com/store/html/product.cfm?id=44

But the 2nd formula contains junk like maltodextrin, silicon dioxide, magnesium stearate, and titanium dioxide. Maltodextrin (see my signature) in particular is guaranteed to give me loose stools.
https://www.universalnutrition.com/store/html/product.cfm?id=426

BTW I am in a running feud with Customer Support from the Life Extension Foundation about their adding maltodextrin to many of their supplements. I told them the reason why I quit them is because they have yet to learn that what you leave out of supplements is just as important as what you put into them.

I never believe claims of supplement manufacturers
And don't believe supplement manufacturers who say their product is custom made for IBDers.

Forvia has excellent promo and advertising but when you look at their formula you can see that it is a mediocre vitamin with excessive amounts of iron and B12. Most men do not need iron, in fact most vitamins for men do not contain any. Forvia has almost twice the amount of iron that is recommended for women. Of course some men will OD on it.

I guess B12 is important especially if you have Crohn's because it is not absorbed well in Crohn's patients. But I would never take that much unless my B12 levels were checked and were found to be below normal. If you need more iron then take a women's multivite or take iron separately.
Check out this post about the dangers of Forvia vitamins:

https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=38&m=2038523

Forvia claims to be the multi that was specifically designed for Crohn's and IBD. But when you look at their ingredients it appears that they are an expensive gimmick. Their multi consists of a mediocre formula with enormous amounts of B12 added. I believe their supplement is overpriced for what you get.

I would rather choose a more comprehensive and less expensive multi that is easy on the stomach and add B12 and iron separately only if needed. Since I have a chronic condition I regularly check my blood levels of B12, folic acid, iron, and vitamin D to see where I stand.

Forvia has the cheap, artificial version of vitamin E, (dl-alpha-tocopherol), and they claim to purposely omit magnesium. Yes it's true that massive doses of magnesium can cause diarrhea but most people are deficient, especially those with IBD who have difficulty absorbing it.

I recommend comparing labels.

The first formula appears to be better but it does contain magnesium stearate and soy. Soy is another problem for me since most soy is GMO containing glyphosate, and glyphosate is another of my triggers.

iPoop said...
If you're eating a healthy diet then you should be getting all of the healthy nutrients you need.

Maybe HEALTHY people can receive their nutrients from a balanced diet, (but I question even that, especially vit D). But IBDers really need to get their blood levels checked for iron, folate, B12, vit D, etc., because of inefficient absorption. I remember after a particularly severe flare with copious bleeding, I was deficient in iron and B12.

For years my multiple vitamin of choice was Rainbow Light. Very comprehensive and easy on the stomach. But they recently diluted the formula so I have been searching for something new. The best I could find was the Life Extension Multiple, it had most of the stuff I was looking for. But it also had MALTODEXTRIN as one of the fillers (talk about a turd in the punchbowl). But the formula was so comprehensive that I decided to give it a try. Wrong! It causes symptoms for me. That's why I was in an email war with their customer service.

So now I am using up the last of my Rainbow Light multivites with the old formula.