People with Crohn's and colitis may benefit from taking vitamin and mineral supplements to prevent deficiency, especially if they need to restrict their diet related to their condition, have lost weight or have active gut inflammation or have undergone surgery.

Your HCP may measure specific levels of vitamins and minerals in your blood tests and if they identify deficiencies they may recommend or prescribe specific supplements. Otherwise you may consider takings over-the-counter vitamin/mineral and other supplements.  

Your pharmacist is often a useful source of advice on choosing a supplement that's right for you. Remember, if you eat an unrestricted and healthy diet and your IBD is well controlled or inactive you may not need to take vitamins or mineral supplements. 

Here are some things to consider.

Products include:

Useful links for further information about healthy eating, vitamins and minerals

HSE.ie

FSAI.ie

Vitamin / Mineral Reference Intake (RI)

Vitamin A 800?g

Vitamin D 5?g

Vitamin E 12mg

Vitamin K 75?g

Vitamin C 80mg

Thiamin 1.1mg

Riboflavin 1.4mg

Niacin 16mg

Vitamin B6 1.4mg

Folic acid 200?g

Vitamin B12 2.5?g

Biotin 50?g

Pantothenic acid 6mg

Potassium 2000mg

Chloride 800mg

Calcium 800mg

Phosphorus 700mg

Magnesium 375mg

Iron 14mg

Zinc 10mg 

Copper 1mg 

Manganese 2mg 

Fluoride 3.5mg 

Selenium 55?g 

Chromium 40?g 

Molybdenum 50?g 

Iodine 150?g

Source: Part A of Annex XIII of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2011 on the provision of food information to consumers