Digestive Health Inflammatory Bowel Disease Nutrition Vitamin and Mineral Deficiencies in IBD By Amber J. Tresca Amber J. Tresca Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Amber J. Tresca is a freelance writer and speaker who covers digestive conditions, including IBD. She was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at age 16. Learn about our editorial process Updated on December 19, 2021 Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Priyanka Chugh, MD Medically reviewed by Priyanka Chugh, MD LinkedIn Priyanka Chugh, MD, is board-certified gastroenterologist with a background in internal medicine. She practices with Trinity Health of New England in Waterbury, Connecticut. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Fact checked Verywell Health content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. Content is fact checked after it has been edited and before publication. Learn more. by Heather Mercer Fact checked by Heather Mercer Heather Mercer is native to Northwest Ohio (go Walleye!) and graduated from Loma Linda University with two doctorate degrees (psychology and public health). She is currently a professor at Owens Community College, as well as a fact-checker for Verywell Health. She has gained experience in a variety of settings, ranging from corporate wellness and preventive medicine, to mental health, chronic disease, and end-of-life care. Learn about our editorial process Print Vitamin and mineral deficiencies tend to be a real problem for people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Several factors contribute to these vitamin and mineral deficiencies, including inflammation, diet, and the treatment for IBD itself. In many cases, vitamins can be gotten either through foods or through supplements. A gastroenterologist is the best source of information on what vitamins and minerals need to be supplemented in people with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Verywell / Anastasia Tretiak Why People With IBD Lack Vitamins and Minerals Some of the main reasons why people with IBD may need more vitamins and minerals are: Inflammation. The inflammation in the small and/or the large intestine that's common in IBD can inhibit the absorption of vitamins and minerals from food. The use of vitamins and minerals by the body is complex, with many nutrients requiring the presence of other vitamins to facilitate their uptake and use by the body. If the body is not receiving even one vitamin it needs, the end result could be a chain reaction affecting many other vitamins and minerals.Diet. Many people with IBD are often on restricted diets either because certain foods tend to worsen symptoms, they are recovering from surgery or a flare-up, or nausea and vomiting make it difficult to eat a balanced diet. A restricted diet can limit the vitamins and minerals available to the body and further contribute to deficiencies.Treatments. The last factor is a result of treatment programs that often include several different types of medications. Certain medications can inhibit the absorption of nutrients, or cause them to be lost from the body. Research shows a variety of potential vitamin and mineral deficiencies in people with IBD: Calcium People with IBD may lack calcium because they are not absorbing enough from food due to inflammation in the small intestine, and because steroid drugs such as prednisone may actually prevent their bodies from absorbing calcium. Calcium is important for the formation of bone, and a deficiency could lead to osteoporosis. Iron A lack of iron can occur in people with IBD because of malabsorption and because of chronic bleeding in the intestinal tract. Iron is an important part of hemoglobin, and hemoglobin is the part of the blood that supplies the body with oxygen. Too little iron in the body could lead to iron-deficiency anemia. Vitamin A A vitamin A deficiency is not common, but it can occur in people with IBD, especially those with Crohn's disease, who are not absorbing enough vitamin A in their small intestine. Vitamin A helps the body to fight infection and is important for good vision and several other body functions. Vitamin A supplements can be toxic, so it is important to consult with a physician before taking a vitamin A supplement. Vitamin D Vitamin D is found in some foods but is also synthesized by the body when skin is exposed to sunlight. People with IBD may lack vitamin D because of poor absorption, restricted food intake, and from not receiving enough exposure to sunlight. A lack of vitamin D can contribute to bone density loss because your body needs vitamin D to absorb calcium. Vitamin K People with IBD may be deficient in this vitamin because of antibiotic use, which diminishes absorption. Also, they may not receive enough vitamin K from food because vitamin K is found in green, leafy vegetables, which some with IBD may avoid eating. A vitamin K deficiency, when coupled with a lack of vitamin D, could contribute to bone loss and gut inflammation. Zinc Zinc is lost in the stool and deficiencies can occur in people with IBD who experience chronic diarrhea. A zinc deficiency is uncommon but can result in a constellation of symptoms such as weakness, slow healing, and diminished sense of hearing, taste, and sight. 10 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Crohn's and Colitis Foundation. Fact sheet: Common micronutrient deficiencies in IBD. Ghishan FK, Kiela PR. Vitamins and minerals in inflammatory bowel disease. Gastroenterology Clinics of North America. 2017;46(4):797-808. doi:10.1016/j.gtc.2017.08.011 Crohn's and Colitis Foundation. Fact sheet: Bone loss. Cappellini MD, Comin-Colet J, de Francisco A, et al. Iron deficiency across chronic inflammatory conditions: International expert opinion on definition, diagnosis, and management. Am J Hematol. 2017;92(10):1068-1078. doi:10.1002/ajh.24820 Crohn's and Colitis Foundation. Fact sheet: Eye complications. World Health Organization. Adverse events following administration of vitamin A supplements. University of Michigan Health. Getting enough calcium and vitamin D. Mount Sinai. Vitamin K. Nakajima S, Iijima H, Egawa S, et al. Association of vitamin K deficiency with bone metabolism and clinical disease activity in inflammatory bowel disease. Nutrition. 2011;27(10):1023-1028. doi:10.1016/j.nut.2010.10.021 Siva S, Rubin DT, Gulotta G, Wroblewski K, Pekow J. Zinc deficiency is associated with poor clinical outcomes in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. 2017;23(1):152-157. doi:10.1097/MIB.0000000000000989 By Amber J. Tresca Amber J. Tresca is a freelance writer and speaker who covers digestive conditions, including IBD. She was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at age 16. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit