Inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are becoming more and more common, even among young people. Diet, gut flora, and immune defense play a major role. Also, patients with inflammatory bowel disease seem to have lower blood levels of vitamin D, which is linked to the chronic inflammatory state and the progression of the disease. This was demonstrated in a study that was published recently in the science journal Medicine.

Irritable bowel syndrome is a widespread condition that is characterized by pain and gastrointestinal discomfort with varying degrees of diarrhea and constipation. There can be a number of underlying causes, but diet plays a major role. Also, there is evidence that being deficient in B-vitamins, vitamin D, magnesium, calcium, iron, and zinc may be a contributing factor. In addition, strict dieting as part of the disease management may result in nutrient deficiencies, according to a review article that is published in Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

Biotin, one of the B vitamins, is essential for numerous metabolic processes, and a biotin deficiency may be associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). According to a new study that is published in Nutrients, a biotin deficiency can also have a negative impact on the intestinal flora and result in a suppression of symbiotic bacteria and a replication of harmful, dysbiotic bacteria. The scientists say that a disrupted gut flora caused by a biotin deficiency may contribute to inflammatory bowel disorders.

The rate of inflammatory bowel diseases like ulcerous colitis is growing, and diet plays a major role. Even if you eat a healthy diet, it can be a challenge to get enough selenium because of the selenium-depleted soil in our part of the world. Apparently, selenium supplementation can lower the disease activity and improve quality of life in patients with ulcerous colitis.

Selenium supports a variety of different selenoproteins and antioxidants that are important for our immune defense, circulatory system, cancer protection, metabolism, gut flora, fertility, nervous system, and general health. This is described in two meta-analyses that are published in Frontiers in Nutrition. The authors mention that there is widespread selenium deficiency in large parts of the world, Europe included, and that this is a public health problem. The big question is how much selenium we need to effectively prevent and treat many chronic illnesses.

In connection with tissue lesions, vitamin B12 boosts cellular reprogramming to speed up the healing process. This was shown in a Spanish study of mice with ulcerous colitis (bleeding inflammation in the colon). Based on this, the researchers assume that vitamin B12 supplementation may be useful for speeding up the regeneration of damage intestinal tissue. They mention that vitamin B12 may also help reduce the type of complicated inflammation that is seen with ulcerous colitis, and which contributes to the destruction of the intestinal mucosa. In this connection, it is important to remember that vegan diets lack vitamin B12, and that weak stomach acid and the ageing process can also inhibit the absorption of the nutrient.