Among the annoying problems of Irritable Bowel Syndrome or IBS sufferers are dietary requirements. If you have IBS, you need to be choosy about the food that you eat. Fruits and vegetables are recommended when you have IBS, but certain foods, especially oily and spicy foods, can trigger the occurrence of one characteristic symptom of IBS which is diarrhea, and must therefore be avoided at all cost.

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Fortunately, there are vitamins, minerals, and dietary supplements you can take to ease the symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. If you have Vitamin C, calcium, and iron in your medicine cabinet, you can relieve yourself of IBS symptoms when they hit you.

Vitamin C or ascorbic acid, in particular, is a natural laxative, and can relieve you of constipation, another classic sign of IBS. However, excessive intake of Vitamin C can also lead to diarrhea and may cause bloating, thus taking it should be regulated and monitored.

It is also good to stock on calcium. Calcium is not only good for your bones it can also relieve constipation and diarrhea when you are having IBS. Calcium carbonate, in particular, has anti-diarrheal properties, while calcium citrate has laxative properties. Whether you are experiencing diarrhea or constipation, calcium can help to make you feel a lot better. Just like, Vitamin C, however, the intake of calcium should also be regulated. The recommended dosage of either preparation is 500 mg or less.

You can also take iron, especially if you are having diarrhea because iron can cause constipation.

Other vitamins that can help:

Treat IBS with Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 is Cobalamin. The functions of this vitamin have a lot to do with the correct functioning of the body cells, but more importantly, it helps in relieving the pain that is confined to the gastrointestinal tract.

Vitamin C can help IBS

Adequate amounts of Vitamin C are recommended for people suffering from IBS.

Studies show that people who have high Vitamin C content in their bodies are less prone to developing the symptoms of IBS. This is made possible because Vitamin C is a very good antioxidant.

Vitamin A can help IBS

Foods rich in Vitamin A could also help a person suffering from IBS, and there are quite a lot of them. However, the fruit and vegetable types are the ones that are going to be of most help to the patient.

Research indicates that a person following a near vegetarian diet is less prone to developing IBS. Of all forms of Vitamin A, beta-carotene is most useful.

B Complex Vitamins for IBS

All B complex vitamins, especially folic acid, can help so much in addressing the symptoms and effects of IBS.

Dietary fiber is very important to people with IBS. It ensures them that the digestive processes inside their bodies are always within normal parameters.

While these vitamins and minerals can, indeed, help relieve symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome, it is still best to consult your physician before taking any of these. Your physician knows better what your body needs, so always get your doctor’s clearance first before you go to the drugstore.

The Effects of Vitamins for Irritable Bowel Syndrome

The symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome can vary from person to person. There are people who experience symptoms of diarrhea with their irritable bowel syndrome while there are some people who experience constipation. Because of this, there are different effects of vitamins for irritable bowel syndrome. Vitamins generally cause chemical reactions in the stomach and these reactions can either be beneficial or harmful to a person’s IBS. Here are some common effects of vitamins for irritable bowel syndrome:

1) Vitamin C – Also known as ascorbic acid, this vitamin has a laxative effect. People should be careful in taking this vitamin for irritable bowel syndrome as it can cause diarrhea when it reaches the stomach. People already suffering from symptoms of diarrhea should monitor their intake of vitamin C very closely.

Taking this vitamin for irritable bowel syndrome may also cause gas and bloating. This occurs when the acid of the vitamin reacts with the alkaline setting of the lower intestinal tract. You can try to observe this reaction by dropping a couple of mentos on a glass of diet coke.

2) Calcium – This vitamin for irritable bowel syndrome can have either a laxative or constipating effect on a person, depending on the type. People suffering from IBS should try to discover hat type of calcium is right for them:

a) Calcium carbonate – This vitamin for irritable bowel syndrome contains no magnesium and can relieve symptoms of diarrhea. This is the best vitamin for irritable bowel syndrome which is prone to diarrhea (IBS-D).

b) Calcium citrate – This type of vitamin for irritable bowel syndrome contains magnesium and thus, can trigger symptoms of diarrhea. This is the best for people who suffer from irritable bowel syndrome which is prone to constipation (IBS-C).

A good advice to follow when taking calcium vitamins for irritable bowel syndrome is to keep the amount at a maximum of 500 mg. This is in order to prevent triggering symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. It is also a good idea to take this vitamin for irritable bowel syndrome with vitamin D as this helps in the absorption of these nutrients.

3) Iron – This vitamin for irritable bowel syndrome can be quite constipating. People taking this vitamin for irritable bowel syndrome are also prone to stomach upsets. It is also a known fact that Iron interferes with the absorption of calcium.

Tips in taking vitamins for irritable bowel syndrome:

1) Try to get balanced doses of your vitamins – When buying supplements, make sure that those supplements deliver the right amounts of vitamins you need. It is important that a certain supplement does not contain a megadose of any vitamin as this could trigger symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.

2) Always take your vitamins with food – It is important that you not take your vitamins on an empty stomach. Doing so could increase the discomfort brought about by the chemical reactions caused by the vitamins. This is especially true with acidic vitamins like vitamin C.

3) Consult a pharmacist – Remember that there are different effects of vitamins for irritable bowel syndrome. If you are unsure regarding which vitamin supplement to take, you should get help from a pharmacist in finding the mildest vitamin for irritable bowel syndrome.

4) Take separate vitamins separately – Vitamins for irritable bowel syndrome also react in various ways with each other. For the best absorption of nutrients, you should try taking vitamins one type at a time.