Vitamin C promotes wound healing, supports your immune system and allows your body to absorb iron -- crucial benefits for people who suffer from ulcerative colitis. This inflammatory bowel disease may leave raw, ulcerated areas in the lining of your colon. (These sores may bleed or become infected, putting you at risk for an iron deficiency or an abscess in your digestive tract. Vitamin C may protect you against the complications of ulcerative colitis by helping your body heal, resist infection and utilize iron.
Significance
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, or UMMC, a low-fat diet that emphasizes foods rich in vitamin C and other nutrients may help prevent flareups of ulcerative colitis. In an article published in the February 2005 issue of "Inflammatory Bowel Disease," researchers found that people who consumed a diet high in vitamin C had a lower incidence of ulcerative colitis. The cause of ulcerative colitis is unknown, but hereditary factors, immune-system abnormalities and environmental conditions may play roles. A diet high in sugar, saturated fat and cholesterol may also contribute to ulcerative colitis, while a diet rich in fruits and vegetables may alleviate your symptoms, according to UMMC.
Complications
The abdominal pain and diarrhea caused by ulcerative colitis may dull your appetite and lead to a loss of nutrients, the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America notes. During flareups of ulcerative colitis, when dietary roughage can aggravate an inflamed colon, you may not be able to eat high-fiber foods such as fruits and vegetables, which are rich in vitamin C. Taking a vitamin C supplement or a multivitamin may help you meet your requirements for this water-soluble nutrient if you are having trouble digesting raw fruits and vegetables. The Office of Dietary Supplements recommends 75 mg of vitamin C daily for women over age 19, and 90 mg daily for adult men.
Iron Absorption
Bleeding in the ulcerated areas of your colon may lead to iron deficiency anemia, according to FamilyDoctor.org. Vitamin C improves your absorption of the iron in plant-based foods, such as beans, spinach, dried fruits or nuts. If you're at risk for anemia due to intestinal bleeding, eating foods high in vitamin C, such as citrus fruits, tomatoes, potatoes, cantaloupe or strawberries, at the same time you eat foods high in iron, may increase the amount of iron your body can utilize, helping you avoid anemia.
Immune System Support
The intestinal damage of ulcerative colitis may lead to the formation of abscesses in your colon, according to UMMC. The corticosteroids used to reduce inflammation and medications that suppress your immune system may also make you susceptible to infection. Getting adequate vitamin C, a nutrient that promotes healthy immune function, may help prevent gastrointestinal infections and other complications of ulcerative colitis.
Tissue Healing
Vitamin C promotes the regeneration of ulcerated digestive tissues by contributing to the metabolism of protein, a nutrient that provides the structural components for your cells, tissues and organs. Your body requires vitamin C to synthesize collagen, an essential component of connective tissue. A lack of vitamin C may weaken your connective tissues and small blood vessels. Vitamin C supports tissue growth and repair in your gastrointestinal tract and boosts your body's ability to recover from damage or infection.
