Good morning,
Quick summary: started having WD 20+ times a day suddenly on May 10,2022. Colonoscopy in June showed LC.
Had already been GF, DF, soy free for many years but went on stage 1 diet (rice, venison, lamb, banana) until August. Better but still WD once a week or so.
Did enterolab - reacted to everything so changed diet to venison,lamb, elk and tiny amount squash/carrot well cooked as well as banana.
Still having problems with WD about once a week, maybe improving a little but lately, but still loosing weight and not feeling great.
So my naturopath ordered a lot of vitamin tests and my Vitamin C is super low! Only 7umol/L when normal is 23-114!
Yikes! Anything under 11 is serious Vitamin C deficiency so now I am worried with this pretty much all meat diet for over 3 months I am getting scurvy :(.
What is a safe way to up my vitamin C please? I am scared of supplements since they have such a high dose! Any food/tea anything natural I could try?
I used to drink lots of Tea (herbal,
Flowers/herbs from my garden or loose leaf and from a GF,vegan facility that also foes not use soy) but per suggestions from this board cut out all of that in hopes it would help me heal but I dont feel like my immune system will heal with a Vitamin C deficiency.
Thank you for any advice!
Tricia
Vitamin C deficiency
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Re: Vitamin C deficiency
Hi TriciaI
For me supplements are very necessary because of my limited diet. I take daily a vitamin C supplement for years. Highly dosed: 1000 mg time released. I think that helps me.
Sonja
For me supplements are very necessary because of my limited diet. I take daily a vitamin C supplement for years. Highly dosed: 1000 mg time released. I think that helps me.
Sonja
Re: Vitamin C deficiency
Thank you Sonja!
I am looking at supplements and there are so many different kinds - buffered, liposomal etc that all claim to be gentle on the gut.
Any preferred types of Vit C that dont cause D? Any good brands that are free of gluten,soy,dairy,eggs,corn and everything else enterolabs test for?
Thank you all so much!
Tricia
I am looking at supplements and there are so many different kinds - buffered, liposomal etc that all claim to be gentle on the gut.
Any preferred types of Vit C that dont cause D? Any good brands that are free of gluten,soy,dairy,eggs,corn and everything else enterolabs test for?
Thank you all so much!
Tricia
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tommyboywalker
- Adélie Penguin
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Re: Vitamin C deficiency
Hi Tricia,
I think you may have to carefully supplement to get your vitamin C level up a bit. I would for sure choose a "timed release" (slower) vitamin C supplement and I also would start with a vey low dosage. I take vitamin C "tablets" which you can cut the pills into small pieces to reduce dosage if necessary for starters. Then you could titrate the dosage up very slowly as necessary and as tolerated of course. And as you are already doing, read the label closely to be sure it is free of everything that could be a potential problem for your gut.
Microscopic colitis is well known to deplete Vitamin D levels, and it sure did for me. Did your doctor test for that and if so, what was that number? Vitamin D was and is the only supplement necessary for me for my colitis, although I do take a daily vitamin C supplement for a chronic pain condition I have (CRPS).
All the best to you and please keep us updated!
I think you may have to carefully supplement to get your vitamin C level up a bit. I would for sure choose a "timed release" (slower) vitamin C supplement and I also would start with a vey low dosage. I take vitamin C "tablets" which you can cut the pills into small pieces to reduce dosage if necessary for starters. Then you could titrate the dosage up very slowly as necessary and as tolerated of course. And as you are already doing, read the label closely to be sure it is free of everything that could be a potential problem for your gut.
Microscopic colitis is well known to deplete Vitamin D levels, and it sure did for me. Did your doctor test for that and if so, what was that number? Vitamin D was and is the only supplement necessary for me for my colitis, although I do take a daily vitamin C supplement for a chronic pain condition I have (CRPS).
All the best to you and please keep us updated!
Re: Vitamin C deficiency
I take one of these every morning after breakfast:
https://www.amazon.com/Solaray-Buffered ... 3YZ0M?th=1
These are capsules, though, so they're not made to be cut in two.
The best dietary sources of vitamin C are citrus fruits, including tomatoes, but those are off-limits for most of us while we're recovering. Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and cauliflower are reasonably good sources, and most of us can tolerate them, except that if you're having trouble passing gas, cruciferous vegetables tend to create gas during digestion. White potatoes also contain vitamin C.
Tex
https://www.amazon.com/Solaray-Buffered ... 3YZ0M?th=1
These are capsules, though, so they're not made to be cut in two.
The best dietary sources of vitamin C are citrus fruits, including tomatoes, but those are off-limits for most of us while we're recovering. Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and cauliflower are reasonably good sources, and most of us can tolerate them, except that if you're having trouble passing gas, cruciferous vegetables tend to create gas during digestion. White potatoes also contain vitamin C.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Re: Vitamin C deficiency
Thank you both for your replies.
I did have my vitamin D tested last week as well and it was 91 (normal range 40-100) so looks like I am doing well with that.
The only supplement I am taking is Vit D drops, 5000 IU, from based on the stage 1 suggestions from this board
I also use topical magnesium lotion but no other supplements.
I have not been feeling great, very fatigued and cold all the time, as well as continued occasional WD on the diet elimination all Enterolab foods. I am wondering if my lack of progress is due to nutritional deficiencies. My B1 result also just came back as low at 60 (normal range 70-150). My currenr foods are: lamb, venison, elk, winter squash, carrot, banana, avocodo, coconut milk. I eat about a pound of meat every day and just very small amounts of the other foods as they do tend to give me gas. I will try a tiny amount cauliflower maybe.
As for vitamin C supplements, after a lot of searching i found this one from puralityhealth. It is a liquid liposomal Vit C so i could easily control the dose.
Could you tell me if the ingredients look ok please?
Organic Glycerin, Vitamin C Liposomal Proprietary Blend (Non-GMO Sunflower Oil with Phosphatidylcholine), Vitamin C (as L-Ascorbic Acid), Purified Water, Citrus Oil and Vanilla (Natural Flavors), Vitamin E (as Alpha Tocopherol), Beta Carotene (Natural Color), Potassium Bicarbonate, Oleic Acid, and Citric Acid.
I emailed them and they said The organic glycerin is sourced from non-GMO, non-palm coconut oil from Malaysia. The vitamin E/D Alpha Tocopherol is sourced from Sunflowers from the USA. i asked since I was worried those ingredients /may be soy or corn derived but they sound safe. The natural flavor is just citrus and vanilla oil which I would prefer not to have but I honestly could not find any other good brand. Their website stated that their product is free of all enterolab foods.
Just want to make sure I am not wasting money on a supplement that will flare me up!
Thanks so much!
Tricia
I did have my vitamin D tested last week as well and it was 91 (normal range 40-100) so looks like I am doing well with that.
The only supplement I am taking is Vit D drops, 5000 IU, from based on the stage 1 suggestions from this board
I also use topical magnesium lotion but no other supplements.
I have not been feeling great, very fatigued and cold all the time, as well as continued occasional WD on the diet elimination all Enterolab foods. I am wondering if my lack of progress is due to nutritional deficiencies. My B1 result also just came back as low at 60 (normal range 70-150). My currenr foods are: lamb, venison, elk, winter squash, carrot, banana, avocodo, coconut milk. I eat about a pound of meat every day and just very small amounts of the other foods as they do tend to give me gas. I will try a tiny amount cauliflower maybe.
As for vitamin C supplements, after a lot of searching i found this one from puralityhealth. It is a liquid liposomal Vit C so i could easily control the dose.
Could you tell me if the ingredients look ok please?
Organic Glycerin, Vitamin C Liposomal Proprietary Blend (Non-GMO Sunflower Oil with Phosphatidylcholine), Vitamin C (as L-Ascorbic Acid), Purified Water, Citrus Oil and Vanilla (Natural Flavors), Vitamin E (as Alpha Tocopherol), Beta Carotene (Natural Color), Potassium Bicarbonate, Oleic Acid, and Citric Acid.
I emailed them and they said The organic glycerin is sourced from non-GMO, non-palm coconut oil from Malaysia. The vitamin E/D Alpha Tocopherol is sourced from Sunflowers from the USA. i asked since I was worried those ingredients /may be soy or corn derived but they sound safe. The natural flavor is just citrus and vanilla oil which I would prefer not to have but I honestly could not find any other good brand. Their website stated that their product is free of all enterolab foods.
Just want to make sure I am not wasting money on a supplement that will flare me up!
Thanks so much!
Tricia
Re: Vitamin C deficiency
Those ingredients appear to be safe. Of course, there are never any guarantees regarding food sensitivities. We might even react sometimes just because were having a bad day.
Tex
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Re: Vitamin C deficiency
Thanks so much for being a second set of eyes to check! With the constant fatigue of this illness sometimes it is hard to figure things out!
Two more questions: what are your thoughts on whole foods vitamin C powder for example Powder of:
•Acerola Cherry Fruit Extract
•Camu Camu Berry Fruit
•Amla Berry Fruit
They contain only one other Ingredient:
• Tapioca Starch∞ (drying medium for the Acerola)
The loose powder would be easy to dose and I like that it is “real” food.
2) what about adding a tiny amount of lemon juice to the water I sip on all day?
Thanks again so much, it is so helpful to feel like there are some others out there that understand :)
Tricia
Two more questions: what are your thoughts on whole foods vitamin C powder for example Powder of:
•Acerola Cherry Fruit Extract
•Camu Camu Berry Fruit
•Amla Berry Fruit
They contain only one other Ingredient:
• Tapioca Starch∞ (drying medium for the Acerola)
The loose powder would be easy to dose and I like that it is “real” food.
2) what about adding a tiny amount of lemon juice to the water I sip on all day?
Thanks again so much, it is so helpful to feel like there are some others out there that understand :)
Tricia
Re: Vitamin C deficiency
I don't have any experience with any of those vitamin C supplements that you listed, but I do have some experience with tapioca, and some of us react to it, including me.
Tex
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.