In recent years we've heard nutritionists extol the virtues of low-fat diets. However, some fat is necessary for the body to absorb certain vitamins such as A, D, E, and K. Fat is absorbed in the small intestine. For people who have Crohn's disease fat absorption is a particular problem. A small intestine that has undergone surgery to remove diseased sections or is inflamed could impair the ability to absorb fat and the fat-soluble vitamins.
Vitamin AYour mother may have told you to eat your carrots because they are good for eyesight. Don't look now, but your mother was right. Vitamin A, also known as beta-carotene or retinol, is not only important for vision but also for bones, skin and reproductive organ growth, hormone creation, and tissue repair.
Vitamin A also helps the body fight infection in at least two ways. Lymphocytes are white blood cells that fight off infection in the body. Lymphocytes need vitamin A to function properly and protect the body from harmful infections. Vitamin A is also important for maintaining the linings of the eye, mucous membranes, and the respiratory, urinary, and intestinal tracts. These linings work to prevent bacteria and viruses from entering the body and causing infections.
Deficiencies in vitamin A can cause night blindness, hinder bone growth, increase susceptibility to infection, and cause rough skin. Diarrhea, inflammation in the small intestine, and malabsorption of fat can all contribute to a loss of vitamin A. Symptoms of deficiency include night blindness, dry skin, and increased infections such as colds, flues, pneumonia, and bronchitis.
Healthy adults can have up to one year's worth of vitamin A stored in the liver (which explains the high content of vitamin A in animal liver), while children may have only a few weeks' worth. Therefore, children with IBD may need close monitoring during bouts of inflammation and diarrhea. Too much vitamin A can be toxic, so supplements should be used with care.
Vitamin A can be found in many foods, but these in particular have significant amounts:
- Liver
- Carrots
- Sweet potatoes
- Spinach
- Cantaloupe
- Kale
- Red peppers
- Broccoli
- Mangos
- Apricots
Vitamin K is used for the body to regulate blood clotting. A deficiency in vitamin K can result in bruising or, in rare cases, bleeding. The relationship between vitamin K deficiency and the onset of osteoporosis is an ongoing debate in the medical community. The National Institutes of Health maintain that currently, there is not enough information to either prove or disprove this theory.
Vitamin K is unusual because it is actually made inside the body. The "good" bacteria in the large intestine actually synthesize vitamin K for use by the body. About 80% of vitamin K needed is made in this way. The other 20% must come from food sources. If the "good" bacteria in the intestine is wiped out by antibiotics or affected by diarrhea, vitamin K production may be decreased. Vitamin K can be toxic in large does, and supplements should be used with care. Those taking the prescription drug Coumadin (Warfarin sodium) should not take vitamin K from supplements or food sources.
Vitamin K is found in various foods including:
- Cabbage
- Cauliflower
- Spinach and other green leafy vegetables
- Cereals
- Soybean
Vitamin E has eight different forms, each with it's own purpose in the body. The form that is most often used by our bodies is alpha-tocopherol.
Vitamin E in the form of alpha-tocopherol is an antioxidant that removes free radicals from the body. Free radicals are a natural result of the metabolic process (the use of glucose by the body for fuel). If not removed from the body, free radicals can cause damage to the cells in the body. This cell damage may contribute to cancer or heart disease. The use of vitamin E to prevent these chronic illnesses is still being studied.
People who don't absorb fat well in their intestines are at risk for a deficiency of vitamin E. If fat is passing through the intestines unabsorbed, it often results in greasy looking stools and/or diarrhea.
Too much vitamin E in the body is associated with very few health risks, but the long-term effects of vitamin E supplementation are still unknown.
Vitamin E can be found in both natural and fortified foods, including:
- Wheat germ oil
- Almonds
- Safflower oil
- Corn oil
- Peanuts
Before starting any program of supplements, talk to your doctor. Vitamin deficiencies are rare in the United States as most people get all the vitamins they need from food.
