Can Vitamins Give You Diarrhea

How Can I Feel Better

Your rectal area may become sore because of all the bowel movements that diarrhea brings. You may have itching, burning, or pain when you go to the bathroom.

For relief, take a warm bath. Afterward, pat the area dry with a clean, soft towel. You may also try using a hemorrhoid cream or petroleum jelly on the affected area.

Do Vitamin B12 Supplements Really Work

Currently, there is no scientific evidence to suggest that vitamin B12 supplements can boost energy in those with sufficient levels of this vitamin . On the other hand, if youre significantly deficient in vitamin B12, taking a supplement or increasing your intake will likely improve your energy level .

What Are The Different Types Of Prenatal Vitamins

Prenatal vitamins typically contain folic acid , calcium, iron, iodine, zinc, and vitamins A, E, and C. The ingredients in prenatal vitamins vary depending on the product. Your doctor will recommend the right type of prenatal vitamin or prenatal supplement based on your specific needs.

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Watch Out For Sorbitol

Some multivitamins, especially chewables or gummies, may be sweetened with a sugar alcohol called sorbitol. For people who are especially sensitive to the laxative-like effects of sorbitol, these multivitamins could potentially cause diarrhea. If you’re sensitive to sorbitol, check the ingredients label of your multivitamins or ask a pharmacist for help with choosing a sorbitol-free brand.

During An Episode Of Vitamin

Unfortunately, if you are suffering a vitamin-induced bout of diarrhea, the only thing that will cure it is time. To ease your suffering, be sure to stay well-hydrated. Mint or chamomile tea can help soothe stomach cramps and bloating. Instead of using regular toilet paper, try the wet cloths used on infants to prevent soreness. Finally, eat bland, easily digestible, low-fat foods, working your way up from liquids to solids like plain rice. If your diarrhea does not go away within 48 hours at the most, then you should consult a doctor immediately.

• Unfortunately, if you are suffering a vitamin-induced bout of diarrhea, the only thing that will cure it is time.
• If your diarrhea does not go away within 48 hours at the most, then you should consult a doctor immediately.

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Take Your Supplement After Exercise

People who exercise are probably no stranger to the effects movement can take on their GI tracts. In fact, some 30 to 50 percent of athletes experience intestinal problems related to exercise, according to a May 2014 review in Sports Medicine.

“Exercise notoriously gets things going,” Dr. Jouhourian says. She recommends taking a supplement after a workout, and perhaps more importantly, while eating, which can help settle the stomach.

Your Food You Ate Was Contaminated/ Spoiled

For all the ways that your food can contract germs and disease-causing microbes, your immune system seriously deserves a round of applause for keeping you so well protected. But sometimes, its possible that your food was just a little too contaminated for your stomachs liking and that is when it can give you a serious case of diarrhea.

It couldve been leftovers that have begun to decay, or produce that wasnt washed properly, or perhaps the food was left to sit outside the refrigerator for far too long. You should know that all of these reasons make for very strong diarrhea triggers.

Prevent it: This may seem like were stating the obvious, but we cant emphasize on this point enough wash your groceries, greens, fruits, and meats thoroughly after you buy them. Make sure to cook them for a long time to kill those harmful viruses and bacteria and do not allow the temperature of your food to fluctuate between hot and cold too often. Additionally, remember to throw away leftovers after a day; these are usually the best breeding grounds for diarrhea-causing microbes.

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What Else Can Cause Diarrhea

There are other supplements that can can cause diarrhea in large doses, such as magnesium and fish oil. These are both excellent supplements for your health, but your body cannot digest large doses of either substance. Another likely culprit of diarrhea is if you are not careful about your diet and take vitamins to “make up” for it. The poor diet could lead to stomach problems, but a poor diet combined with vitamins could certainly provoke diarrhea because the body may not have the ability to digest the vitamins properly.

Finally, if you have had stomach surgery, or have a history of irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease or other conditions that affect the digestive system, you may be more sensitive to vitamin supplements than most people.

• There are other supplements that can can cause diarrhea in large doses, such as magnesium and fish oil.
• The poor diet could lead to stomach problems, but a poor diet combined with vitamins could certainly provoke diarrhea because the body may not have the ability to digest the vitamins properly.

Watch Out For These Fat

Here are details about vitamins A, E and K and the symptoms of overdose to look out for.

Vitamin A is a fat-soluble nutrient that is naturally present in many foods, like beef, eggs and many fruits and vegetables. An overdose of this vitamin can lead to problems with confusion, hair loss, liver damage and bone loss. It can also cause an increased risk for death and lung-associated issues for those who have a history of smokingparticularly female smokers.

Vitamin E is a fat-soluble nutrient found naturally in foods and added to some fortified foods that can help protect cells from damage caused by free radicals, such as air pollution. But taking too much of this supplement can increase your risk for bleeding and bleeding in the brain.

Vitamin K is a fat-soluble nutrient thats important for blood clotting, healthy bones and other bodily functions. Its rare that youll overdose on vitamin K by eating things like broccoli. But in supplement form, it can induce blood clots, which can lead to heart attacks and strokes, if you take too much.

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Youre Taking Vitamins On An Empty Stomach

Vitamins that are more acidic in nature like vitamin C or folate may cause nausea if theyre consumed on an empty stomach, Poppers told HuffPost.

There are some buffering effects when vitamins are taken with a snack or a small amount of food, he said, adding that some nutrients are even better absorbed when theyre taken with some grub. However, some supplements may be better off consumed on their own.

Fat-soluble vitamins, like vitamins A, D, E and K, unlike some others, may be better absorbed when not taken with food, Poppers said.

Energy And General Health

Having diarrhea causes your body to lose a lot of water, and preventing dehydration is especially important to your wellbeing when you are following the diarrhea diet. Babies, young children, and the elderly are especially at risk.

While you may not feel up to guzzling down glass after glass, be sure to sip on water or another approved beverage as frequently as you can. If the balance of fluid and salts in your body is off, not only will you continue to feel rundown and generally unwell, but it can lead to potentially serious complications.

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Vitamins & Supplements You Should Not Take Together

You know the drill: You have a ton of vitamins to take in a day but youre not sure exactly when you should take them all. And, while we should always turn to food for our vitamin and mineral intake, sometimes vitamin supplementation can help us fill the gaps in our diet. So here you are with your chosen vitamins and you dont know whats the best strategy to take them.

Part of the reason behind the confusion is for some supplements, your absorption level can depend on which ones you are taking together and may also result in adverse interactions, which can be harmful to your health.

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Here are six vitamin combinations you definitely shouldnt take together.

Nutrients To Watch Out For

Multivitamins generally contain three categories of nutrients:

• Water-soluble vitamins. These can dissolve in water and dont usually accumulate in the body nor cause severe side effects if you take them in excess .
• Fat-soluble vitamins. These dissolve in fat and accumulate in the body, reaching toxic levels and potentially causing havoc if you take them in excess .
• Minerals. These are inorganic elements that can accumulate in the body and sometimes cause harmful effects if you take them in excess .

Some of these cause more side effects at higher dosages than others. The sections below highlight the nutrients from each category that may be particularly harmful if you take them at high doses.

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How Much Vitamin C Is Too Much

Since vitamin C is water-soluble and your body excretes excess amounts of it within a few hours after you consume it, its quite difficult to consume too much.

In fact, it is nearly impossible for you to get too much vitamin C from your diet alone. In healthy people, any extra vitamin C consumed above the recommended daily amount simply gets flushed out of the body .

To put it in perspective, you would need to consume 29 oranges or 13 bell peppers before your intake reached the tolerable upper limit (

19 ).

All the adverse effects of vitamin C, including digestive distress and kidney stones, appear to occur when people take it in mega doses greater than 2,000 mg .

If you choose to take a vitamin C supplement, it is best to choose one that contains no more than 100% of your daily needs. Thats 90 mg per day for men and 75 mg per day for women .

Summary:

Its nearly impossible to consume too much vitamin C from food. However, if youre supplementing with this vitamin, you can minimize your risk of getting too much by taking no more than 90 mg per day if youre a man, or 75 mg per day if youre a woman.

Vitamin C is generally safe for most people.

This is especially true if you get it from foods, rather than supplements.

Individuals who take vitamin C in supplement form are at greater risk of consuming too much of it and experiencing side effects, the most common of which are digestive symptoms.

Can You Overdose On Vitamins Watch For These Symptoms

Weve all heard the saying, Too much of a good thing is bad for you. But what about when it comes to vitamins? Can you ever really overdo them?

Yes, absolutely, said Dawn Gerber, PharmD, a clinical ambulatory pharmacy specialist with Banner Health. Basically, there are two types of vitamins: water-soluble and fat-soluble. Although your body can excrete large amounts of water-soluble vitamins, it holds onto fat-soluble vitamins, which can be toxic at high levels.”

Water-soluble vitamins, like vitamin C and B-complex, are carried to the bodys tissues and arent stored in your body. Fat-soluble vitamins, like A, D, E and K, are absorbed along with fats in your diet and are stored in your bodys fatty tissue and in the liver.

These get caught in our fat, the non-muscular parts of our bodies, Dr. Gerber said. The more supplements we take at high doses, the more that accumulates and isnt flushed out.

While its hard to overdose just eating these vitamins naturally with a well-balanced diet, vitamin supplements can have negative ramifications.

Heres what you need to know to avoid overdoing it in the supplement department.

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Can Supplements Cause Loose Stools

Certain foods, drinks, or supplements can increase the likelihood of loose stools or diarrhea occurring. Sometimes, the body can have problems digesting certain types of sugars, such as sugar alcohols and lactose. Sugar alcohols are found in a wide range of fruits, vegetables, and artificial flavorings.

You Have Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Diarrhea that occurs immediately after a meal can also be attributed to irritable bowel syndrome , where diarrhea is actually one of the most predominant symptoms. IBS is a functional bowel disorder which doesnt have an underlying disease process. It is also a condition where the exact cause remains a mystery.

Prevent it: While there is no cure for IBS, there are some things you can do to manage your symptoms. You could infuse your diet with fluids and fiber-rich foods to encourage healthy bowel movement while avoiding large meals that may increase the load on your intestines. Maintaining a food diary can also help you keep track of your IBS triggers so you can make better dietary decisions in the future.

Stress is often very common in most IBS patients. Therefore, seeing a counselor can also help manage ones IBS symptoms.

Lastly, your doctor may prescribe you certain medications and supplements to soothe your IBS symptoms. These may include fiber supplements, antispasmodic agents as well as antidepressants.

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What About Vitamin D

You may have noticed we left vitamin D off this fat-soluble list, and there is a good reason . The reason for this is that we dont typically see overdose with vitamin D as much, Dr. Gerber said. The data hasnt shown detrimental effects of high doses. In addition to this, many Americans are actually deficient in the vitamin as well.

Will Expired Vitamins Cause Diarrhea

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What Are The Side Effects Of Prenatal Vitamins

Most women who take prenatal vitamins as directed by their doctor or midwife experience little or no side effects from prenatal vitamins. The iron in prenatal vitamins may cause constipation, and some women complain of nausea. You also may have diarrhea, dark stools, low appetite, and stomach upset or cramps. Talk with your OB/GYN or midwife about any side effects you have from taking prenatal vitamins.

When Should You Start Taking Prenatal Vitamins How Long Should You Take Them

Doctors, midwives, and other health care professionals recommend that women begin taking prenatal vitamins before they become pregnant. The brain and spinal cord of the embryo begin to develop within 3 to 4 weeks of pregnancy, when you may not even know that you are pregnant. The CDC recommends that all women of childbearing age consume folic acid daily to prevent spina bifida and anencephaly. These serious birth defects affect the babys developing brain and spinal cord. Your doctor or midwife may recommend that you continue to take prenatal vitamins after you have your baby, especially if you are breastfeeding. If you are planning to conceive, make an appointment with your doctor to discuss any pregnancy planning concerns.

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Probiotics Prebiotics And Synbiotics

Probiotics are âgoodâ bacteria that may ease the belly pain and gas you get with IBS. There aren’t specific recommendations on how much you should take, which kinds, or how often. Studies have shown there is a potential for benefit, but more research is needed.

You can take supplements as capsules or sprinkle them as a powder on food. You also can get probiotics naturally in foods like yogurt, aged cheeses, kimchi, sauerkraut, miso, and tempeh.

Prebiotics: These sugars serve as food for âgoodâ bacteria and can help them grow. Thereâs not a lot of research on these supplements and how they can help with IBS, but theyâre not harmful for most people. Fruits and vegetables are also good sources of prebiotics, especially bananas, onions, garlic, leeks, asparagus, and artichokes, plus soybeans and whole wheat foods.

Synbiotics: These are a combination of probiotics and prebiotics. Early studies show these might help people with IBS. But doctors need more research to learn if and how they should be recommended.

Prolonged Diarrhoea And Dietary Advice

Some of the common causes of infectious diarrhoea including Salmonella and Campylobacter may take two weeks to resolve.; Those with Prolonged diarrhoea from any cause will be at risk of nutritional deficiencies developing if little or no food is consumed.

Once the person is regularly tolerating fluids by mouth and is no longer dehydrated they should be ready to eat some food.;; After three or four days without food the supply of nutrients to the cells lining the gut, the mucosa, will have fallen substantially.; These cells have a short, busy lifespan and a very high demand for nutrients and cautious early feeding may aid their recovery and help to curtail more Prolonged diarrhoea.

The World Health Organisation and other expert bodies recommend the BRAT regime which includes:;

• Bananas
• Apple
• Tea .;

Bananas and apples are rich in potassium and contain easy to digest carbohydrate.; Additionally banana is rich in amylase-resistant starch, which may be of benefit to the gastrointestinal mucosa, cells that line the internal gut wall.;

Rice is a very easy to digest form of carbohydrate and rehydration regimes based upon rice have been shown to help diarrhoea due to cholera but not necessarily other types of infective diarrhoea.

Tea helps to slow down the gut and avoiding milk will help to reduce the risk of the diarrhoea persisting due to lactose intolerance.;

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