Health Food Supplements For Crohn's Disease

Crohn's disease is a condition characterized by inflammation of the digestive tract, particularly the intestines. Conventional drugs, including anti-inflammatory, steroids, and anti-diarrhea agents, aim to control acute flare-ups and prolong the remission of this disease. Although some natural food supplements were found beneficial in research studies for managing Crohn's disease, you should not use these products without seeking advice from your health-care provider.

Probiotics

Probiotics are also known as the "good" bacteria that normally populate the intestines. They are also found in yogurt, milk and miso in limited amounts. For therapeutic purposes, several species of probiotics are available as over-the-counter supplements. Saccharomyces boulardi is a probiotic that may help to relieve diarrhea associated with Crohn's disease, according to the University of Maryland, Medical Center. Probiotics may also reduce inflammation and boost the immune system.

Omega 3

Omega 3 fatty acids from fish oil are safe and may be effective to maintain remission of Crohn's disease, particularly if used in enteric coated capsules, indicates an article in the April 2007 "Cochrane Database Systematic Reviews." This article summarizes the conclusion of multiple research trials that evaluated the benefits of omega 3 essential fatty acids, and suggests that more studies are needed before using this supplement routinely for Crohn's disease.

N-acetyl Glucosamine

N-acetyl glucosamine, or GlcNAc, showed therapeutic benefits in improving symptoms of Crohn's disease, based on a pilot study published in December 2000 issue of " Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics." This study was conducted in children suffering from Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Three to 6 g of N-acetyl glucosamine were used daily in combination with standard drugs. The authors found that the majority of the subjects had significant improvement in managing symptoms of Crohn's and also a reduced risk of developing intestinal scars that require surgery.

Vitamins & Minerals

Individuals with Crohn's disease have poor digestion and therefore low ability to absorb nutrients, particularly vitamin D, K, B-12, folic acid, calcium and zinc. In addition, some medications used for Crohn's may cause nutrient deficiencies -- for example, sulfasalazine decreases the levels of folic acid in the body and corticosteroids reduce calcium levels, says UMMC. Therefore, a diet rich in nutrients, along with a multi vitamin and mineral formula, are beneficial for Crohn's disease sufferers.

Considerations

Consult a qualified health care professional to find out optimal dosage and types of food supplements that may help your condition. Keep in mind that food supplements do not replace and should not be used to replace conventional drugs recommended for Crohn's disease.