Inflammatory bowel disease

Story

Connected to · 2

synergy · 1

Iron
The ESPEN guideline recommends oral iron first-line when inflammatory bowel disease is clinically inactive and the iron deficiency or anemia is mild; when the disease is active, oral iron was not tolerated before, or hemoglobin is below 100 g/L, intravenous iron is first-line. Forcing oral iron during a flare leaves unabsorbed iron in an inflamed gut.

regulates · 1

Digestive
The inflammation of Crohn's disease can extend through the full thickness of the bowel wall and can appear in any part of the digestive tract, while ulcerative colitis stays in the lining of the colon. Which part is affected decides which deficiencies are likely: when the end of the ileum is involved, for example, vitamin B12 absorption is more likely to suffer.

Read full story

Stop 1/4

Where each disease inflames the gut

EVIDENCEREVIEW 1

READ THE ORIGINAL

Inflammatory bowel disease () is not a food allergy. It is chronic inflammation of the gut, and it comes in two main forms: Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. The two have different maps. The inflammation of Crohn's disease can go through the full thickness of the gut wall and can affect any stretch from the mouth to the anus; ulcerative colitis stays in the inner lining (the mucosa) of the colon.

Which stretch and which layer is inflamed decides which nutrients later run short, and it is what separates the logic of iron, B12 and vitamin D deficiency. This chapter lays out the map first; the immune-suppressing drugs are not covered here.

In Crohn's disease a stretch of bowel can narrow and block: if you get cramping belly pain that comes in waves, a swollen belly, vomiting, and can no longer pass gas or stool, seek medical care immediately.

Educational content, not medical advice. See a clinician about your own case.

Back