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Constipation is a standard medical drawback. In america, individuals make 2.5 million visits to the physician for constipation yearly.
Other than OTC drugs, individuals can strive consuming meals excessive in fiber, reminiscent of:
Whereas some nutritional vitamins and minerals would possibly assist relieve constipation if an individual has a deficiency, others may cause it.
On this article, we discover nutritional vitamins and dietary supplements for constipation. We check out the results of various nutritional vitamins on digestive well being.
Rising dietary fiber and taking over-the-counter (OTC) laxatives are standard therapies for constipation, however some individuals additionally select to take dietary supplements.
1. Vitamin C
The authors of an earlier research from 2008 seen that youngsters with constipation had decrease ranges of vitamin C, folate, and magnesium.
These youngsters additionally ate decrease quantities of dietary fiber, fruits, and plant meals. Not consuming sufficient fiber may cause constipation. Fruit and veggies, that are excessive in fiber, are sometimes excessive in vitamin C as nicely.
Some potential unintended effects of taking vitamin C embody belly ache, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The bigger the dose, the extra doubtless it’s that an individual could expertise these signs.
Docs don’t advocate that individuals take giant doses of vitamin C to assist them cross stool, however a day by day vitamin C complement could assist.
2. Vitamin D
Analysis from 2019 discovered a powerful affiliation between continual constipation and vitamin D deficiencies.
The individuals with intestinal problems that trigger constipation had decrease ranges of vitamin D. These findings don’t recommend that growing vitamin D will relieve constipation, nonetheless, because the low vitamin D ranges could also be a consequence of continual constipation.
Some individuals take vitamin D dietary supplements, particularly in the event that they dwell in northern nations since sunshine is a crucial supply of vitamin D.
3. Vitamin B-12
Folks with a vitamin B-12 deficiency could expertise :
Whereas taking vitamin B-12 dietary supplements could not assist these with out a deficiency, correcting the deficiency could relieve signs in those that do.
Teams of individuals which are most vulnerable to creating a vitamin B-12 deficiency embody individuals with:
4. Magnesium – “can bcaa cause constipation”
Taking too many magnesium dietary supplements may cause free stools, diarrhea, nausea, and cramps. Magnesium has an osmotic impact, which implies it attracts water into the gut, which is among the causes of free stools or diarrhea.
A typical laxative that individuals should purchase on the pharmacy is Milk of Magnesia. The primary medicinal ingredient is magnesium hydroxide.
Whereas there’s little analysis to recommend that magnesium dietary supplements can deal with constipation, of all of the dietary supplements listed on this article, it’s the mostly used mineral complement to deal with the issue. It’s doubtless a secure choice to strive, so long as an individual sticks to the advisable dose.
Nutritional vitamins to keep away from
Though some nutritional vitamins and minerals might help individuals with constipation, others could trigger it or make it worse.
Calcium
Calcium is crucial for sustaining sturdy bones and finishing up features within the muscle mass, coronary heart, mind, and different physique techniques.
Calcium is in:
Whereas it’s unlikely that an individual would devour an excessive amount of calcium from meals alone, these taking dietary supplements would possibly. An excessive amount of calcium may cause constipation.
Some individuals have to proceed taking calcium dietary supplements, nonetheless. To scale back the chance of constipation from dietary supplements, medical doctors advocate taking calcium all through the day.
Taking calcium with meals or altering the model or type of calcium can typically assist.
Iron
Iron is one other mineral that may trigger digestive points if an individual is taking dietary supplements.
An excessive amount of iron can even trigger:
To scale back constipation, individuals can strive taking decrease doses at first and slowly growing their dose if obligatory.
A physician could advocate taking the iron capsule with meals, though some meals cut back iron absorption.
When to see a physician
If an individual is having arduous or rare bowel actions and has tried growing dietary fiber and taking OTC merchandise, they need to converse with their physician.
The physician would possibly be capable to prescribe stronger laxatives or advocate different therapies.
In some instances, frequent or persistent constipation is usually a signal of an underlying situation, so a physician could ask about an individual’s different signs.
Anybody who must take laxatives frequently to cross stool ought to let their physician know. Treating constipation when it’s a symptom of one other situation can cover harmful warning indicators.
Abstract
The commonest therapies for constipation embody dietary modifications and OTC laxatives. Nutritional vitamins and minerals would not have a serious function in treating constipation.
Nevertheless, some individuals could expertise constipation on account of a vitamin deficiency, reminiscent of vitamin B-12 deficiency. In these conditions, a vitamin complement could assist relieve constipation.
Some nutritional vitamins and minerals may cause free stools or diarrhea, together with magnesium and vitamin C. Different dietary supplements, reminiscent of calcium and iron, may cause constipation.
Folks ought to converse with a physician earlier than beginning or stopping a vitamin or mineral complement.