to person. There are people who experience symptoms of diarrhea
with their irritable bowel syndrome while there are some people
who experience constipation. Because of this, there are
different effects of vitamins for irritable bowel syndrome.
Vitamins generally cause chemical reactions in the stomach and
these reactions can either be beneficial or harmful to a
person's IBS. Here are some common effects of vitamins for
irritable bowel syndrome:
1) Vitamin C – Also known as ascorbic acid, this vitamin has a
laxative effect. People should be careful in taking this vitamin
for irritable bowel syndrome as it can cause diarrhea when it
reaches the stomach. People already suffering from symptoms of
diarrhea should monitor their intake of vitamin C very closely.
Taking this vitamin for irritable bowel syndrome may also cause
gas and bloating. This occurs when the acid of the vitamin
reacts with the alkaline setting of the lower intestinal tract.
You can try to observe this reaction by dropping a couple of
mentos on a glass of diet coke.
2) Calcium – This vitamin for irritable bowel syndrome can have
either a laxative or constipating effect on a person, depending
on the type. People suffering from IBS should try to discover
hat type of calcium is right for them:
a) Calcium carbonate – This vitamin for irritable bowel
syndrome contains no magnesium and can relieve symptoms of
diarrhea. This is the best vitamin for irritable bowel syndrome
which is prone to diarrhea (IBS-D).
b) Calcium citrate – This type of vitamin for irritable bowel
syndrome contains magnesium and thus, can trigger symptoms of
diarrhea. This is the best for people who suffer from irritable
bowel syndrome which is prone to constipation (IBS-C).
A good advice to follow when taking calcium vitamins for
irritable bowel syndrome is to keep the amount at a maximum of
500 mg. This is in order to prevent triggering symptoms of
irritable bowel syndrome. It is also a good idea to take this
vitamin for irritable bowel syndrome with vitamin D as this
helps in the absorption of these nutrients.
3) Iron – This vitamin for irritable bowel syndrome can be
quite constipating. People taking this vitamin for irritable
bowel syndrome are also prone to stomach upsets. It is also a
known fact that Iron interferes with the absorption of calcium.
Tips in taking vitamins for irritable bowel syndrome:
1) Try to get balanced doses of your vitamins - When buying
supplements, make sure that those supplements deliver the right
amounts of vitamins you need. It is important that a certain
supplement does not contain a megadose of any vitamin as this
could trigger symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.
2) Always take your vitamins with food – It is important that
you not take your vitamins on an empty stomach. Doing so could
increase the discomfort brought about by the chemical reactions
caused by the vitamins. This is especially true with acidic
vitamins like vitamin C.
3) Consult a pharmacist – Remember that there are different
effects of vitamins for irritable bowel syndrome. If you are
unsure regarding which vitamin supplement to take, you should
get help from a pharmacist in finding the mildest vitamin for
irritable bowel syndrome.
4) Take separate vitamins separately – Vitamins for irritable
bowel syndrome also react in various ways with each other. For
the best absorption of nutrients, you should try taking vitamins
one type at a time.
About The Author: Janet Rusky is a health freak and as an ex
IBS sufferer offers her hints and tips to manage this discomfort
on her website. http://irritable-
