Crohn's disease, an inflammatory disease of the colon, causes abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss, rectal bleeding, skin problems and fever. Children with Crohn's disease may also suffer from stunted growth and developmental delays as a result of decreased vitamin and mineral absorption. The body's failure to absorb adequate amounts of calcium adds to developmental problems in children with Crohn's disease. Consult your child's doctor prior to giving your child calcium supplements.
Crohn's Disease and Absorption
Crohn's disease causes your child's body to attack the healthy tissues of his digestive tract, leading to chronic inflammation. Crohn's typically affects the intestines, but may also affect any portion of your child's gastrointestinal tract. As your child's body attacks the healthy tissues of his digestive tract, chronic inflammation develops. This inflammation causes the intestinal walls to thicken and scar tissue to form. Expect absorption problems, weight loss and malnutrition to occur if your child's Crohn's disease causes an overgrowth of bacteria in the intestines, scar tissue to form as the intestinal tract heals, or decreased bowel motility.
Calcium
The failure to absorb adequate amounts of calcium may lead to bone, muscle, nerve and hormone problems for your child. When calcium levels become low, your child's body takes calcium from the bones. Too little calcium in young children may lead to weak bones or rickets -- a disease that causes bowing of the legs, muscle pain, weakness and poor growth. Older children, especially female teens, who have inadequate calcium levels have an increased risk of osteoporosis and bone fractures.
Research
Supplementation of calcium and vitamin D in patients with Crohn's disease helps to prevent bone loss and promotes increased bone mineral density. A study published in the February 2005 issue of "Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology" showed that patients receiving vitamin D and calcium supplements had a 3 percent to 4 percent increase in bone mineral density each year. The study also showed that pharmaceutical drugs created to increase bone density do not provide the same benefits as calcium and vitamin D supplementation for Crohn's.
Supplementation
While your child receives calcium each time he eats dairy products and fortified foods, nearly 60 percent of boys and 85 percent of girls between the ages of 9 and 18 fail to consume the 1,300 mg of calcium recommended each day, according to KidsHealth.org. Even if your child with Crohn's consumes the recommended amount of calcium each day, he may not absorb it properly and require a calcium supplement. Expect your child to need a vitamin D supplement to help the body absorb calcium if your doctor advises the use of a calcium supplement. Use supplements containing less than 500 mg of calcium for the best absorption rates. If your child's doctor recommends a dose higher than 500 mg, split it into two or three smaller doses taken throughout the day. Consult your doctor to determine the best supplemental calcium dose for your child.
References
- National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse; Crohn's Disease; February 2006
- "U.S. News and World Report": Crohn's Disease
- KidsHealth.org: Calcium and Your Child
- "Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology"; Randomized Trial of Etidronate Plus Calcium and Vitamin D for Treatment of Low Bone Mineral Density in Crohn's Disease; Jesse S. Siffledeen, et al.; February 2005
- Office of Dietary Supplements: Calcium
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