Vitamins and Minerals in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Abstract

Indiscriminate use of multivitamin/mineral supplements in the general population may be misguided, but patients with chronic Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD) should be monitored and compensated for nutritional deficiencies. Mechanistic links between vitamin/mineral deficiencies and IBD pathology has been found for some micronutrients and normalizing their levels is clinically beneficial. Others, like vitamin A, although instinctively desirable, produced disappointing results. Restoring normal levels of the selected micronutrients requires elevated doses to compensate for defects in absorptive or signaling mechanisms. This article describes some aspects of vitamin and mineral deficiencies in IBD, and summarizes pros and cons of supplementation.

Perspective on skeletal health in inflammatory bowel disease

“…Decreased physical activity, also associated with less sun exposure, is highly prevalent in chronically diseased individuals, and, thus, in IBD patients. Life style advices, comprising physical exercise and sun exposure, and diet supplementation, easiest by a multicomponent supplement, may all contribute to an improved bone health, and is therefore recommended [50,62]. Smoking is a risk factor for decreased bone health, although challenged in IBD patients [63], but as smoking is a no-go area in IBD itself, it should be abandoned anyhow.…”

“…Functional and surgery-induced digestive disorders form part of the clinical spectrum of IBD, in addition to potentially increased intestinal leakage [50]. In general, supplemental multivitamin preparations seem therefore beneficial, although not formally evidenced by trials.…”

Diet and inflammatory bowel disease: The Asian Working Group guidelines

“…A close monitoring of BMD, better control of disease activity, physical activity, and dietary intake of calcium and vitamin D are recommended to diminish the loss of bone mass in patients with CD and UC [ 151 , 152 ]. European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation (ECCO) recommends weight-bearing exercise, smoking cessation, and maintaining adequate dietary calcium > 1 g/day to prevent bone loss in patients with IBD [ 153 ].…”

Zinkmangel im Fokus: Ursachen, Symptome, Diagnose und Therapie

“…Ihre Aufgabe besteht im Transport von intrazellulär nach extrazellulär [53]. gel den Krankheitsverlauf ungünstig beeinflusst [20]. Eine bakterielle Fehlbesiedelung des Darms wurde ebenfalls mit Zinkdefiziten in Verbindung gebracht [4].…”