LOW ZINC LEVELS ARE COMMON IN IBD

A study at the University of Chicago found that adults with Crohn's disease (59%) and ulcerative colitis (51%) (UC) had low levels of zinc in their blood (S Siva and others, Inflammatory Bowel Disease 2017). The patients with low zinc levels (zinc deficiency) had increased hospitalizations, surgeries and disease complications. Fortunately, the patients improved when they got proper amounts of zinc.

In kids with Crohn's disease, small studies have shown as many as 40% may have zinc deficiency. And up to 15% don't get enough in their diet–putting them at risk for decreased growth and delayed sexual maturation (delayed puberty).

While zinc is found in many foods, the presence of IBD (inflammatory bowel disease) , can reduce how much of the dietary zinc is being absorbed.   Zinc levels in IBD can be low because of diarrhea, inflammation, and the use of acid blockers. 

• Inflammation of the small intestine is common in IBD and it reduces the intestine's ability to absorb nutrients like zinc into the cell (see also iron). 
• Diarrhea moves food through the digestive system too quickly and does not allow the body enough time to absorb nutrients.

Acid blockers like omeprazole (Prilosec) and lansoperazole (Prevacid) reduce stomach acid which is needed to help nutrients like zinc to be absorbed in the small intestine (see also vitamin B12)