Vitamin tests

[Slamjona89]

Hey guys, recently I'm not doing so well with my crohn's so I'm asking my GI for vitamin deficiency tests for the first time. Although I really want to check all the vitamins and minerals like a lot of people here suggest, my GI seems a little reluctant. Right now I'm planning on testing vit D and the B vitamins, but are there any other vitamins and minerals that are the utmost importance for people with crohn's?

 

[valleysangel92]

sorry to hear you aren't doing so well. If you can then I'd say get vit c, iron, potassium and calcium done too as lack of any of these can have pretty nasty symptoms and serious consequences. Let us know if you have any other questions and keep us posted.

 

[DustyKat]

Have Magnesium and Zinc checked.

Where is your Crohn's located?

Dusty.

 

[nogutsnoglory]

I echo Dusty in wanting to know where your disease is and what symptoms do you have that's making you interested in exploring it.

B12, iron, Folic acid, zinc, calcium http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/condition/crohns-disease

 

[Slamjona89]

Brain fog and recent restless legs are my main concern. I got my vit D and B tests back and are apparently normal. GI always says iron is fine when looking at my blood cell count. But I'll look into the other minerals you guys mentioned . Thnx!

 

[David]

With the restless leg, DEFINITELY get magnesium as Dusty suggests. And be sure to respond back to this thread with the actual results because, "Normal" is not always normal which we can explain.

 

[Kimbra]

I got my results back yesterday and am very disappointed since I had hoped my extreme hair loss and fatigue may have benefitted from folic accident and b12.. Also after learning about magnesium citrate and D3 on here I had him test those as well along with C.. He called me yesterday to say all are normal.. My B12 is in the 500 range.. I was even thinking I might have pernicious anemia since I have almost all the symptoms but he says nope.. I am not anemic.. And he cautioned me to stay away from the Internet.. Now I am frustrated once again.. Thanks for the vent ...

 

[David]

Hi Kimbra and welcome.

What was your specific magnesium and vitamin D level?

What medications are you on?

 

[Slamjona89]

My vitamin D level is actually 19. Obviously pretty low so I will get that supplemented. B12 is in the 300s, which my doctor said was normal. I can't remember the exact number but you guys say that symptoms of B12 deficiency can appear even when your numbers are within normal range, so should I try to get near 500? It seems like some of my symptoms might be from a B12 deficiency, I hear that restless legs is also associated with B12 along with magnesium.

 

[David]

If you are in the USA, yes, you want to have at least a B12 level of 500pg/ml. In other countries, that means 369pmol/L. Our vitamin B12 deficiency wiki provides reasoning and references for this.

Yes, magnesium deficiency can be one of the potential causes of restless leg syndrome. And Mg deficiency is VERY common in people with Crohn's and we have a good wiki entry on it as well.

 

[Kimbra]

The dr said normal for B12 is anywhere from 200 to 900 and he said I am at 500 but I have all the symptoms of needing it.. I don't think he told me my mag level just that it was acceptable. I know he didn't mention where the D or C was and he did those blood tests. Maybe they aren't back yet.. He said the folic is normal as well. He might have told me where it was but I don't remember. As far as the meds I'm on a little on my back story ..I am newly diagnosed as of the end of May after a month of being really sick ending in a 6 day hospital stay and a colonoscopy with biopsies that determined I have crohns.. I have suffered with fibromyalgia for over 20 years.. Anyway, the meds he has me on for the crohns are Asacol 3 times a day totalling 800 mg a day and right now prednisone twice a day totalling 20mg a day due to the flair that started the day after I took my last pred after being weaned. Still feeling sad I won't be able to try B12 shots and maybe have my hair stop falling out in clumps and possibly have some energy..

 

[David]

If you want to be really sure about whether you're deficient in B12, see if they'll test your methylmalonic acid levels. It becomes elevated when you're deficient in B12 and is MUCH more accurate than serum B12.