PREVENTING AND TREATING ZINC DEFICIENCY IN IBD

If you have Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, preventing and treating certain nutrient deficiencies (see iron and B12) like zinc often requires more than just maintaining a balanced diet. Many factors can contribute to low zinc levels; so, it is important to figure out the cause and correct it. 

Causes of Low Zinc Levels

• Dietary selection
• Decreased appetite
• Acid blockers interfering with zinc absorption
• Inflammation in the small intestine
• Diarrhea

To treat a zinc deficiency, your healthcare provider may prescribe medications like Imodium, hyoscamine or dicyclomine to control the diarrhea and prevent zinc loss. The use of acid blockers may be stopped or lessened. Zinc supplements may also be recommended to increase appetite and replace zinc lost from diarrhea or not absorbed from the diet.

Treatment of a Zinc Deficiency:

• Blood test: to check zinc levels in the blood
• Re-evaluation of possible inflammation in the small intestine
• Stopping or lowering acid blockers
• Antidiarrheal medication to control diarrhea and prevent zinc loss
• Zinc supplement: to stimulate appetite and for those who are not absorbing enough
• Other appetite stimulant
• Zinc as part of IV nutrition (parenteral nutrition)

Once a zinc deficiency has been treated, there are steps that can be taken to help prevent low zinc levels in the future.

Preventing a Zinc Deficiency:

• Maintaining a balanced diet rich in zinc or an Special IBD diet
• Taking a zinc supplement (if recommended by your healthcare provider)
• Blood tests to monitor zinc levels
• Re-evaluation of the small intestine for inflammation