Crohn's Disease is an inflammatory bowel disease that can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract. Symptoms associated with Crohn's disease depend on the location and extent of the infection. Crohn's disease can infect any area of the intestinal tract from the mouth to the anus, although the disease generally strikes the small intestine. Initial symptoms of the disease are abdominal pain, internal bleeding, diarrhea, constipation and weight loss. Advanced stages of the disease can produce attacks of arthritis, body rashes and eye inflammation.
The cause of Crohn's Disease remains unknown, although there are indications that the disease is caused by a malfunction of the auto immune system and is genetically passed on to an infected person's descendants. There is no known medical cure for persons afflicted by Crohn's Disease.
Inflammatory bowel disease patients are generally deficient in vitamin D, which indicates that any person who suffers mild symptoms of Crohn's Disease should immediately increase their daily intake of vitamin D. Scientists are not certain if a lack of vitamin D is an underlying cause of Crohn's Disease or in fact the disease causes a vitamin D deficiency, however they do agree that there is a connection between the two.
Vitamin D is naturally absorbed from the sun's rays by the body's skin, and is the major source of the vitamin. There are only a few natural foods that contain any significant amounts of vitamin D namely, fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel or tuna as well as beef liver and egg yolk. Other food sources are those that have been fortified with vitamin D including, fortified milk, margarine and cereals.
In Australia, the main source of vitamin D has been from the sun, although in recent years because of the high incidence of skin cancer and the "Slip, Slop, Slap" advertising campaign, there have been reports of an increase in the number of people with a vitamin D deficiency. For this reason, people are well advised to take vitamin D supplements daily.
Vitamin D supplements are particularly recommended for the elderly, who may be confined indoors, dark skinned people and those that do not regularly exercise outdoors. A lack of vitamin D can result in developing rickets or osteomalacia, a condition that affects the strength of the body's bones.
Maintaining an adequate level of Vitamin D assists our auto immune system to protect our bodies from many ailments not the least of which, may be Inflammatory bowel disease or Crohn's Disease.
Any sufferer of Crohn's Disease, who is taking medication for the condition, would be advised to discuss the benefits of taking vitamin D supplements with the doctor, who can recommend the correct daily dosage for you.
The affects of Crohn's Disease can most certainly be eased by taking proper medication and an adequate daily supplement of vitamin D.
Oze Parrot
About the Author
Oze Parrot is an author, publisher and Internet marketing consultant. Formerly a tourist operator and real estate business marketing consultant Location: Queensland, Australia. You may republish this article as long as you include the name of the author and provide an active link to: http://vitamin.erlypro.com/
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