supplements

[angelias]

Do you think that anyone affected by coeliac disease should take supplements every day… for the rest of their life? I’m thinking about calcium, vitamin B12, vitamin D3, iron, for example.

[Ejcl]

I’m not coeliac but had to go gf after becoming anaemic last summer. After a lot of tests I learnt it was gluten causing the issues.

I’m now back to normal levels after courses of iron tablets and folic acid, I’m going to be taking multivitamins which incl iron and folic acid long term to stay healthy and maintain my levels.

I don’t know if my experience is standard but it makes sense to take supplements if they provide the nutrients I’m not otherwise getting. I have read that iron deficiency and folate are common with coeliacs and you’re also missing out on the vitamins added to bread etc.

[jointpain]

The test for celiac is renowned for only being 50% accurate. Gluten can damage the villi in the ileum which are responsible for extracting B12 from digesting food, and the villi produce lactase? Which is necessary for digesting lactose, and possibly many other processes. After being severely deficient in B12, unable to digest milk and milk products, or meat, and testing negative for celiac. I took charge of my own health, stopping gluten, injections of B12 and within two years I reckon my villi recovered sufficiently to allow me to digest most foods. I still get quite ill if I accidentally consume gluten, but on the whole I'm much better now than I've been in the years between age 20 and 61

[angelias in reply to jointpain]

Where can you get B12 injections? I’ve had to have iron infusions several times, but I didn’t know about B12 injections.

[jointpain in reply to angelias]

Firstly go to your GP and ask if they have a record of any B12 blood serum tests done on you , if not ask if they will do it for you. Then ask about injections.

[m0ezp]

Yes, I suspect supplements will be needed long term. Be aware that the line trotted out for years about coeliacs needing calcium and D tablets has been discredited. I’m not an expert but as I understand it, unless we have enough vitamin K the calcium is more likely to not go to your bones but where you don’t want it to go like your arteries. Also taking D on its own is likely to deplete calcium in your bones! I now only take a good multivitamin and vitamin K2 daily (K2 is more easily absorbed). Its a tricky subject but worth reading up on interactions.

Good luck

[angelias in reply to m0ezp]

OMG, shouldn’t coeliac patients be advised by doctors on this subject? I didn’t know that calcium supplements should be taken with Vitamin K.

I was prescribed Vitamin D3 by my GP and I’ve been taking it with Vitamin K2, because I read about this… but really my GP should have advised on this…

Thank you for pointing that out! I definitely need to read more on this topic.

[m0ezp]

I think it is a relatively recent discovery...the last 10 years. Yes, GPs should be more aware but I'm not convinced Gastro clinics are either yet.

The first clue I got was 5 years ago after a cardiology exam when the cardiologist had concerns about me taking calcium tablets. Then 3 years ago my rheumatologist said discuss with Gastro but I don't want you taking calcium, just take Vit D. Two years ago a friend advised me to look into Calcium, D and K2 and I discussed this with my gastro consult. He told me he no longer advises taking calcium and confirmed D and K2 are a good way forward. Sometimes the Zoe Diet & Nutrician podcast has relevant info on this.

btw. When I was diagnosed coeliac in 2014 they also found a hiatus hernia so they put me on PPIs (lansoprazole). A few years later I started having mobility issues with weak tendons. I found out that PPIs block absorption of many vitamins and cups of tea do too to a lesser extent. I wasn't convinced I needed the PPIs so I stopped them. Since then I have my multivits etc with breakfast drinking coffee (no absorption probs with coffee). After two months my mobility was clearly improving and has continued to over the last 18 months. My hiatus hernia hardly ever gives me problems either.

Many prescriptions are essential of course but it really has been a wake up call to be more aware of what we're being prescribed.

[angelias in reply to m0ezp]

Thank you for sharing your experience in this regard, and I’m glad to hear that your mobility and general health have improved. I actually stopped taking calcium recently, because my nephew told me it’s better eating food rich in calcium rather than taking it as a supplement. I used to take multivitamins (Centrum) but stopped because the level of vitamin D always tends to be quite high in multivitamins: I don’t want to take more than 800iU a day.

[m0ezp in reply to angelias]

Your nephew's right. Zoe discussed that recently and we absorb it best from the sun and through food. I take Natures Best Multi Max for Men which has 400iU of vit D. 400iU a day they said on Zoe was all we need and mega doses could cause other problems.

Good luck 🍀

[angelias in reply to m0ezp]

Many thanks again, seems like I need to do some research on multivitamins 🙂

[Researchfan]

My personal opinion is that supplements have there place to fix deficiency and in the process of gut healing. But after this, it’s better to eat real food and nutrient dense food to get what is needed if you can and tolerated. Monitor your levels periodically of vitamin D, Iron, B12, folate etc.

Vitamins and minerals have better assimilation in the body when from real foods, but this relies on a healthy gut and tolerance of certain foods.

I agree k2 and vitamin d work together to put calcium where it should be. K2 is harder to get unless you tolerate fermented cheeses like matured cheddar cheese, real grass fed butter, cream, or fermented veggies. Cod liver oil with vit a, d may be helpful.

Healthy animal fats contain the essential fat soluble vitamins A, D, E and K. And they work synergistically. If you’re a total vegetarian you would need to supplement certainly, especially B12. Obviously you would need supplemented B12 if have absorption issues or pernicious anaemia. If you tolerate eggs the yolk contains all vitamins and some minerals - and has been described as a vitamin pill.