Finally, vitamin supplementation is important in inflammatory bowel disease. Both Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease can cause blood loss from the gastrointestinal tract that can lead to anemia. In Crohn's disease, the blood loss will typically be occult, while in Ulcerative colitis there may be evidence of gross rectal bleeding. Most patients, even if they are not anemic, will benefit from iron supplementation. Additionally, in Crohn's disease, there may be malabsorption of iron, B12 and calcium, so supplementation with vitamins containing these vitamins and minerals is warranted.

In summary, diet and nutrition are very important in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. You should discuss this with your gastroenterologist and perhaps even a nutritionist to come up with the best plan tailored to your disease.

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More on diet and nutrition for people living with IBD can be found here.