Does Vitamin D Help With Constipation

Does Vitamin D Cause Constipation

SINCE I HAVE BEEN TAKING 2000 IUS OF VTAMIN D 3 I have become so constipated I have never been constipated.I feel as if I need to go to the toilet, but nothing happens.I feel so uncomfortable. What is your suggestion?

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Vitamin D has a litany of uses and has been a staple of medical care since the early 20th century. Doctors initially used the supplement to help prevent rickets, and further research found additional benefits for bone and immune system health. But research has also found a connection between vitamin D and constipation.

How Is Constipation Usually Treated

Many individuals who suffer from occasional constipation that isnt caused by a serious health issue may be helped by:

• Getting more exercise
• Including plenty of natural fiber and whole grains in their diets
• Using bulking agents
• Taking magnesium supplements

In rare cases, doctors will prescribe medications designed to help with chronic constipation. These medications are often given to young children and older adults who suffer from constipation caused by another medical problem.

In general, doctors suggest that OTC laxatives be avoided unless they are used only a few times every year.

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Vitamin D And Constipation: Is There A Link

I write this article in response to a readers question. Rather than giving a yes or no answer to that reader, I thought it was better to give a detailed answer that can help many people.

Original question: I have been taking a vitamin D supplement for the last 2 months. Since then I have been constipated. Can vitamin D cause constipation? Or is it a coincidence?

Before coming to the answer, I would like to tell some important information about vitamin D.

Vitamin D is essential for many important functions of the body. It gives strong bones and muscles. Vitamin D regulates calcium metabolism in the body.

Calcium in the diet is absorbed by the digestive system. Vitamin D is essential for the calcium absorption. In addition, it helps deposit the calcium into the bones and teeth.

Vitamin D is soluble and can be stored in the body for many months. Too much vitamin D in the body can cause elevated levels of calcium in the blood. It is called hypercalcaemia.

High levels of calcium in the blood can cause constipation.

So, the answer to her question is yes, vitamin D can cause constipation.

However, taking the supplement at the recommended dose should not cause any problems. You can take up to 1000 IU of vitamin D3 a day without any side effects. If you are vitamin D deficient, your doctor may recommend a higher dose.

Taking high potency supplements without any medical advice is the root cause of the problem. It may cause vitamin D toxicity that can make you constipated.

Vitamin D Supplements Could Ease Painful Ibs Symptoms

• New research finds high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in IBS patients â regardless of their ethnicity
• Vitamin D supplements could help to ease IBS symptoms such as bloating, stomach cramps and constipation
• IBS is a condition which affects two in 10 people in the UK

Vitamin D supplements could help to ease painful Irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms, a new study from the University of Sheffield has found.

Scientists from the Universityâs Department of Oncology and Metabolism reviewed and integrated all available research on vitamin D and IBS â a condition which affects two in 10 people in the UK.

The study showed a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in IBS patients â regardless of their ethnicity.

The Sheffield team also assessed the possible benefits of vitamin D supplements on IBS symptoms. Whilst they believe more research still needs to be conducted, their findings suggested supplements may help to ease symptoms which can include abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhoea and constipation. Vitamin D was shown to have the most benefit on quality of life in IBS.

Lead author of the study, Dr Bernard Corfe, said: âThe study provides an insight into the condition and, importantly, a new way to try to manage it.

âIt is evident from the findings that all people with IBS should have their vitamin D levels tested and a large majority of them would benefit from supplements.

The new study is published today in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

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Vitamin D Won’t Help Ease Irritable Bowel Syndrome

HealthDay Reporter

THURSDAY, Aug. 5, 2021 — Taking vitamin D supplements won’t improve painful symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome , British researchers report.

IBS is a chronic digestive disorder that can cause stomach cramps, bloating, diarrhea and constipation. Symptoms come and go for some people, but the condition can severely affect quality of life for many.

Previous research has suggested a link between low vitamin D levels and IBS.

“What our research shows is that supplementing vitamin D at a safe dose did not reduce the severity of IBS symptoms,” said study author Liz Williams, a senior lecturer in human nutrition at the University of Sheffield.

She and her colleagues looked at 135 IBS patients, about half of whom used a vitamin D3 oral spray and the other half a placebo for 12 weeks. Even though vitamin D levels rose in participants taking the vitamin, there was no improvement in the severity of their IBS symptoms or their quality of life.

The study was published July 30 in the European Journal of Nutrition.

“There has been interest from researchers and from patient groups in the potential of high-dose vitamin D to alleviate symptoms of IBS, but there haven’t been many properly controlled trials in this area,” Williams said in a university news release.

While the supplements didn’t help with IBS, she added that they did correct deficiencies in people whose vitamin D levels were low.

More information

What Foods Reduce Potassium

Starchy root vegetables are high in potassium, so should be limited to one portion per day or less. Other starchy foods based on wheat or rice are low in potassium and are good alternatives. Potato, sweet potato, yam and cassava need to be boiled in plenty of water to reduce their potassium content.

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Vitamin D Is Essential

Your body needs vitamin D for a number of reasons. Vitamin D plays an essential role in absorbing calcium in the intestines and controlling the amount of calcium in your blood. This means vitamin D has the job of forming, maintaining and strengthening your bones. The main food sources of vitamin D include mackerel, salmon, cod liver oil, tuna and milk, dairy and orange juice fortified with D. The rest of what you need comes from the sun or supplementation. The sun stimulates the body to make vitamin D, but as over-exposure to it has caused skin cancer and premature aging of the skin, you may avoid spending time outdoors.

• Your body needs vitamin D for a number of reasons.
• The main food sources of vitamin D include mackerel, salmon, cod liver oil, tuna and milk, dairy and orange juice fortified with D. The rest of what you need comes from the sun or supplementation.

Surprising Causes Of Constipation

13:59

How often you poop per day varies from person to person. Some people might go up to three times a day, while others only have a bowel movement a few times a week.

Dr Danie Pauw previously told Health24, It should not be less than three times per week.

Constipation happens when your colon absorbs too much water or the muscles contract too slowly or poorly, which means stool moves through your digestive system too slowly. When the stool loses too much water, it hardens. If the faeces sit in your colon for three days or longer, the mass becomes even harder and more difficult to pass.

Now you know what constipation is, its important to understand that there are a number of different causes besides lack of fibre.

1. Hypothyroidism

An underactive thyroid, or hypothyroidism, can cause your metabolic processes to slow down. According to Dr Catherine Ngo, a board-certified gastroenterologist at Saddleback Memorial Medical Center in California, The slower the system, the longer the digestive contents have to be reabsorbed by the colon, resulting not only in decreased frequency of stools, but harder stools.

Although constipation is not always related to thyroid problems, Dr Carla H Ginsburg, assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School in Boston, says, When I see a young person whos constipated more than normal and really complaining, I do tend to get a thyroid level.

2. Medications

3. Bad bathroom habits

4. Diabetes

5. Overusing laxatives

6. Vitamins

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The Sunshine Vitamin May Prevent More Than Bone Deterioration

Approximately one billion people worldwide are not getting enough of the highly beneficial vitamin D. We can synthesize vitamin D through our skin from exposure to sunlight, and there are small amounts of it in some foods. However, many people are still finding it difficult to obtain adequate amounts, which is why healthcare professionals recommend we take supplements to meet our nutritional needs.

In Issue 171 of The Inside Tract® newsletter, we discussed the benefits of vitamin D and how they relate to individuals with gastrointestinal diseases and disorders. We explained that individuals who have difficulty absorbing dietary fat, such as those with Crohns disease or celiac disease, may have difficulty obtaining enough vitamin D because it is fat soluble. In addition, we talked about the reduced risk of colon cancer in individuals with adequate vitamin D intake.

The Sunshine Vitamin

Natalie Bourré, BSc, MBANatalie Bourré is a Pharmaceutical Marketing Consultant, who provides consulting services to The Ddrops Company Inc. CSIR has not received any funding from this company.

First published in the Inside Tract® newsletter issue 171 2009

Vitamin D and Crohns Disease

First published in The Inside Tract® Newsletter Issue 176 2010

1. Ramagopalan SV et al. A ChIP-seq defined genome-wide map of vitamin D receptor binding: Associations with disease and evolution. Genome Research. 2010 20:1352-60.

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Do Calcium And Vitamin D Supplements Cause Constipation

calcium supplements cause constipationcalciumcalcium and vitamin Dcalciumconstipatingcalcium

Calcium citrateCalcium citrate is the most easily absorbed form of calcium. It can be taken with or without food and usually doesn’t cause stomach upset or gas, a common problem with other types of calcium supplements. It’s also less likely to cause constipation, unlike calcium carbonate.

One may also ask, how do you avoid constipation when taking calcium supplements? Too much calcium can cause constipation. Some people need to continue taking calcium supplements, however. To reduce the risk of constipation from supplements, doctors recommend taking calcium throughout the day. Taking calcium with meals or changing the brand or form of calcium can sometimes help.

Similarly, does calcium and vitamin D cause constipation?

Calcium supplements cause few, if any, side effects. But side effects can sometimes occur, including gas, constipation and bloating. In general, calcium carbonate is the most constipating. You may need to try a few different brands or types of calcium supplements to find one that you tolerate the best.

Do vitamin D supplements cause constipation?

Taking too much vitamin D can cause unpleasant side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, constipation, and appetite loss. The amount of vitamin D that you are getting from your current medication is slightly higher than the daily recommended maximum.

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Drink Plenty Of Plain Water

This is probably the easiest and healthiest way of dealing with the problem of constipation. Drinking water helps in diluting the toxins in the system and they become easy to be removed from the body. Increase your water intake and you will see that problems of constipation and many other things get cured completely.

Benefit Of Increased Gastric Motility

The laxative effect of a high dose of vitamin C can be useful for someone with constipation. In this case, a dose would be chosen that increases the frequency of bowel movements. The dose would purposefully exceed bowel tolerance. Once the constipation has eased, the dose of vitamin C can be lowered as well.

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Watch The Simple Carbs

Do you ever wonder how a party-size bag of chips affects your digestive system? Well, for one thing, it wreaks havoc on your bowel movements the next day. As a more effective constipation treatment, instead try adding vegetables, complex grains, and good fatsmonounsaturated and polyunsaturatedto your diet. According to WebMD, the good fats in olive oil help coat the intestine, making it easier for food to move through. Try these home remedies for constipation relief.

Questionnaires For The Evaluation Of Quality Of Life In Patients With Intestinal Motility Disorders

The IBS-QOL questionnaire is a 34-item tool validated to quantify quality of life in non-subtyped IBS patients, but also used to assess the severity of IBS-like symptoms, and psychological factors. The SF-12 includes a subset of 12 items, used to assess the physical and mental health domain in many diseases. All these scores are converted into a standardized 0-100 score. Higher scores indicate a better self-reported health status. Furthermore, the HADS-14 represents a global measure of psychological distress and includes 14 items, 7 of them evaluate anxiety symptoms, and 7 depressive ones. Each item is coded from 0 to 3. The total scores for anxiety and depression can range between 0-21, based on symptoms characteristics.

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How To Choose The Best Calcium

When looking at calcium supplements, consider these factors:

There are several things to consider when purchasing a calcium supplement. Running out to the store and buying the cheapest one you see can actually do you more harm than good. Not only can that supplement cause painful constipation, it can cause other health issues and end up being one more thing cluttering up your cabinets.

Consider the following points before putting your money towards a calcium supplement: Take a look at why you want to take a calcium supplement how much you have to spend on the supplement how frequently youll have to purchase more the dosage physical size of the supplement and product form liquid, tablet, capsule, powder, etc. Do your research to see what clinical studies, guarantees, certifications and measures for clean, ethical sourcing the company has.

When To See A Doctor

Many people only suffer from constipation on an occasional basis. If you have bouts with constipation after eating certain types of food or making sudden changes to your diet, you most likely do not need to see a doctor. Simply try drinking more water and exercising to see if that relieves the problem.

Unfortunately, some individuals do suffer from constipation on a regular basis. If you are constipated more than once a week or cant tie your constipation to eating habits, its important to see a doctor.

During your visit, your doctor may try to get a better understanding of the cause of your constipation by:

• Asking you questions about your lifestyle and exercise habits
• Talking with you about your symptoms
• Taking samples of your stools
• Conducting an abdominal or rectal exam

In some cases, it may be necessary for a doctor to conduct a more extensive exam to decide whats causing constipation. This might include:

• Blood work
• A barium enema followed by intestinal X-rays
• Other imaging of your GI tract

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Getting Rid Of Constipation Caused By Vitamins Or Due To Other Factors

It has been seen that there are times when one needs to take in vitamins to meet the nutritional deficiencies in the body. And the problem of constipation also exists. In such cases, you have to learn the various ways in which the problem of constipation can be dealt with successfully. Mentioned below are some simple ways in which the problem can be solved to a great extent

Does Vitamin D Help With Ibs

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. People also ask, can vitamin D affect your bowel movements?

In some cases of vitamin D overdose, toilet habits can be affected, says Dr Andrew Thornber, chief medical officer at Now Patient. These changes can include diarrhoea, constipation and frequent urination. Too much vitamin D can also affect blood and calcium levels.

Subsequently, question is, does vitamin D help with acid reflux? Natural supplements to help fight heartburn and acid refluxVitamin D: Vitamin D is important for addressing any infectious component. Higher folic acid intake was found to reduce acid reflux by approximately 40 percent. Low vitamin B2 and B6 levels were also linked to an increased risk for acid reflux.

Then, what vitamin helps with IBS?

Other supplements you may like to consider for IBS include:

• Folic Acid: Many people with IBS are low in folic acid, which is thought to be very good for general bowel health.
• Vitamin B12: Many people with IBS are deficient in iron, which Vitamin B12 helps the body to absorb.

Does Vitamin D give you energy?

Vitamin D proven to boost energy — from within the cellsA hormone normally produced in the skin using energy from sunlight, Vitamin D can also be found in a few foods – including fish, fish liver oils, egg yolks and fortified cereals but it can also be effectively boosted with Vitamin D supplements.

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