Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Vitamins Not Digesting

Newbee

Recommended Posts

Newbee Contributor
Newbee
Posted

I take a lot of vitamins and I noticed recently that some of them are going completely through my body without being digested. I'm trying to figure out what to do about this. I'd heard hard tablets can do this but I think it is some of the capsules I'm taking as I took some toilet paper and pressed it against it and white powder came out (sorry this is kind of gross). I thought capsules were supposed to be easy to digest. I can't digest things like raw vegetables either. Should I just open up the capsules and dump them in my mouth and take them that way or poke them with a knife to try and open them up a little in hopes that the stuff inside can escape? I appreciate the help!

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


GottaSki Mentor
GottaSki
Posted

There are liquid vitamins - they can be quite pricey, but if you aren't absorbing the capsules it might be a good idea to try liquid. Also I know B vitamins are available in sublingual (dissolves under the tongue) form, perhaps other vitamins are available sublingually as well. Can you add the capsules you have to a smoothie? If there are too many it probably would not be palatable, but may be worth a try.

Newbee Contributor
Newbee
Posted
  • Author

I tried taking a liquid multi-vitamin but realized it did not contain a lot of the vitamins that most multis do (was missing things like iron and iodine amongst other things). I am worried about having low thyroid and have heard not getting enough iodine can make this worse. I haven't found an iodine supplement that is recommended. So I went back to a liquid soft gel. I'm not sure if I'm digesting this or not but I've found other supplements that are not being digested (I take a LOT of supplements). I don't do smoothies anymore as they gave me digestive issues. I wonder if I can just take the stuff out of the vitamins and take it straight that way. Anyone know?

kelly97 Rookie
kelly97
Posted

My dietician was just talking to me this last week about vitamins. Because of malabsorpsion, she says we need fat soluble vitamins delivered in a water soluble way. She was going to send me either info about them or a prescription for them. I'm not for sure which. Maybe you should talk to your doctor about them?

Take care,

Kelly

ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted

I tried taking a liquid multi-vitamin but realized it did not contain a lot of the vitamins that most multis do (was missing things like iron and iodine amongst other things). I am worried about having low thyroid and have heard not getting enough iodine can make this worse. I haven't found an iodine supplement that is recommended. So I went back to a liquid soft gel. I'm not sure if I'm digesting this or not but I've found other supplements that are not being digested (I take a LOT of supplements). I don't do smoothies anymore as they gave me digestive issues. I wonder if I can just take the stuff out of the vitamins and take it straight that way. Anyone know?

You should be able to get enough iodine by just using iodized salt. It is also a good idea to have your iron levels tested to make sure you need to supplement it as it can be toxic if you take too much. Are you also seeing a lot of undigested food? Have you talked to your doctor? If you haven't it would be a good idea, IMHO as you may have something going on in addition to celiac.

pricklypear1971 Community Regular
pricklypear1971
Posted

You should be able to get enough iodine by just using iodized salt. It is also a good idea to have your iron levels tested to make sure you need to supplement it as it can be toxic if you take too much. Are you also seeing a lot of undigested food? Have you talked to your doctor? If you haven't it would be a good idea, IMHO as you may have something going on in addition to celiac.

If you do indeed have a thyroid problem, and it is Hashimoto's Disease, there's strong evidence to support NOT taking iodine. Not all hypothyroidism is the same.

Edit:sorry, should have replied to the original post.

Newbee Contributor
Newbee
Posted
  • Author

I see undigested vegetables. I've mentioned this to my doctor before and he told me it was normal to see pieces of vegetables. He hasn't been very helpful. I wouldn't be surprised if something else is going on. I did ask the doc about that but he said he was sure all my issues were celiac related. Blah, may need a better doctor.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Juliebove Rising Star
Juliebove
Posted

I don't know if this could be the case here, but some pills are made in such a way that the casing can come out in the stool. Such is the case with a diabetes med that my daughter is taking. I remember a discussion about it some years back on the diabetes newsgroup but I don't think anyone knew the answer. Then my daughter went on the med. The Dr. whispered something to her about the med which I just barely heard. It had something to do with seeing a "ghost" in her poop and not to be alarmed. It could be that the vitamin is made like that.

I have gastroparesis. That means that I don't digest my food properly. I know that it is common for all people to eat corn or even peas and have some of that come out undigested. And perhaps that could come down to not chewing as well as we should. I will occasionally have trouble with undigested food going through me. Not often, but occasionally if my stomach is acting up this will happen.

1desperateladysaved Proficient
1desperateladysaved
Posted

I have been puzzling over the same issue. I have been opening capsules and chewing tablets. One could also put tablets through a blender to crush them.

I asked of my health pros and they said that I either had too short of transit time, or not enough hydrochloric acid. One thing if you ever try to take hydrochooric acid do not grind them!

ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted

I see undigested vegetables. I've mentioned this to my doctor before and he told me it was normal to see pieces of vegetables. He hasn't been very helpful. I wouldn't be surprised if something else is going on. I did ask the doc about that but he said he was sure all my issues were celiac related. Blah, may need a better doctor.

There are some doctors that once we are diagnosed will then consider any issues to be related to celiac. I agree it might be time to consider a different doctor. This is especially the case if you have been strict with your diet.

Mom-of-Two Contributor
Mom-of-Two
Posted

I am unsure of the vitamin issue but just wanted to comment that it can be hard to find a very supportive dr- I am lucky that I did, and she really treats me with the full spectrum- meaning, she tetss my vitamin levels, looks for any other complications of celiac, follows up every 3 months (it will go to once a year after this next visit, assuming it shows normal antibodies), she takes a lot of time and listens to everything, gives advice about nutrition, diet, what supplements, reads labels of ones I take to ask her about, etc etc. I am not saying this is the norm for a physician, I am just saying that having celiac disease, you need a good deal of support to really heal- and it can be a frustrating process. You need a good dr, particularly one that knows celiac disease and all its manifestations.

Good luck to you!

bartfull Rising Star
bartfull
Posted

Before I went gluten-free I had undigested vegetables in my stool every day. For YEARS. If I ate a salad the night before it looked the same the next morning as it did when I ate it (minus the bowl of course). It seemed the only thing I could digest was meat and bread. Even french fries would show up the next morning. Going gluten-free changed all that and as long as I stay away from gluten I poop like a normal person now.

Newbee Contributor
Newbee
Posted
  • Author

Juliebove, what do they tell you to do about gastroparesis? I wonder if I have that. As the vitamin I keep seeing will squash out white powder once it has gone through my digestive system, I don't think I'm absorbing what I'm supposed to. Maybe the coating on this one is extra difficult to digest for some reason. I hope it is not all vitamins that are going this way, but I really don't know.

kittty Contributor
kittty
Posted

I see undigested vegetables. I've mentioned this to my doctor before and he told me it was normal to see pieces of vegetables. He hasn't been very helpful. I wouldn't be surprised if something else is going on. I did ask the doc about that but he said he was sure all my issues were celiac related. Blah, may need a better doctor.

I mentioned the same thing to a doctor several years ago, and she also told me it was normal. Current doctor asked me recently about BM issues, and I mentioned that. She wondered why I hadn't mentioned it before...well, because I thought it was normal :rolleyes:

It went away after a month or so of being gluten free, but unfortunately it came back again after a glutening and hasn't gone away again. Not sure why that is. I haven't been glutened in over a month, and it's really bad again now.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,902
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Patty6133
    Newest Member
    Patty6133
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • trents
      New (possible) celiac diagnosis

      By trents · Posted

      Welcome to the forum, @Judy M! Yes, he definitely needs to continue eating gluten until the day of the endoscopy. Not sure why the GI doc advised otherwise but it was a bum steer.  Celiac disease has a genetic component but also an "epigenetic" component. Let me explain. There are two main genes that have been identified as providing the "potential" to develop "active" celiac disease. We know them as HLA-DQ 2.5 (aka, HLA-DQ 2) and HLA-DQ8. Without one or both of these genes it is highly unlikely that a person will develop celiac disease at some point in their life. About 40% of the general population carry one or both of these two genes but only about 1% of the population develops active celiac disease. Thus, possessing the genetic potential for celiac disease is far less than deterministic. Most who have the potential never develop the disease. In order for the potential to develop celiac disease to turn into active celiac disease, some triggering stress event or events must "turn on" the latent genes. This triggering stress event can be a viral infection, some other medical event, or even prolonged psychological/emotional trauma. This part of the equation is difficult to quantify but this is the epigenetic dimension of the disease. Epigenetics has to do with the influence that environmental factors and things not coded into the DNA itself have to do in "turning on" susceptible genes. And this is why celiac disease can develop at any stage of life. Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition (not a food allergy) that causes inflammation in the lining of the small bowel. The ingestion of gluten causes the body to attack the cells of this lining which, over time, damages and destroys them, impairing the body's ability to absorb nutrients since this is the part of the intestinal track responsible for nutrient absorption and also causing numerous other food sensitivities such as dairy/lactose intolerance. There is another gluten-related disorder known as NCGS (Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity or just, "gluten sensitivity") that is not autoimmune in nature and which does not damage the small bowel lining. However, NCGS shares many of the same symptoms with celiac disease such as gas, bloating, and diarrhea. It is also much more common than celiac disease. There is no test for NCGS so, because they share common symptoms, celiac disease must first be ruled out through formal testing for celiac disease. This is where your husband is right now. It should also be said that some experts believe NCGS can transition into celiac disease. I hope this helps.
    • Judy M
      New (possible) celiac diagnosis

      By Judy M · Posted

      My husband has had lactose intolerance for his entire life (he's 68 yo).  So, he's used to gastro issues. But for the past year he's been experiencing bouts of diarrhea that last for hours.  He finally went to his gastroenterologist ... several blood tests ruled out other maladies, but his celiac results are suspect.  He is scheduled for an endoscopy and colonoscopy in 2 weeks.  He was told to eat "gluten free" until the tests!!!  I, and he know nothing about this "diet" much less how to navigate his in daily life!! The more I read, the more my head is spinning.  So I guess I have 2 questions.  First, I read on this website that prior to testing, eat gluten so as not to compromise the testing!  Is that true? His primary care doctor told him to eat gluten free prior to testing!  I'm so confused.  Second, I read that celiac disease is genetic or caused by other ways such as surgery.  No family history but Gall bladder removal 7 years ago, maybe?  But how in God's name does something like this crop up and now is so awful he can't go a day without worrying.  He still works in Manhattan and considers himself lucky if he gets there without incident!  Advice from those who know would be appreciated!!!!!!!!!!!!
    • Scott Adams
      Patiently Waiting to See Results

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      You've done an excellent job of meticulously tracking the rash's unpredictable behavior, from its symmetrical spread and stubborn scabbing to the potential triggers you've identified, like the asthma medication and dietary changes. It's particularly telling that the rash seems to flare with wheat consumption, even though your initial blood test was negative—as you've noted, being off wheat before a test can sometimes lead to a false negative, and your description of the other symptoms—joint pain, brain fog, stomach issues—is very compelling. The symmetry of the rash is a crucial detail that often points toward an internal cause, such as an autoimmune response or a systemic reaction, rather than just an external irritant like a plant or mites. I hope your doctor tomorrow takes the time to listen carefully to all of this evidence you've gathered and works with you to find some real answers and effective relief. Don't be discouraged if the rash fluctuates; your detailed history is the most valuable tool you have for getting an accurate diagnosis.
    • Scott Adams
      Gluten free beer ?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      In this case the beer is excellent, but for those who are super sensitive it is likely better to go the full gluten-free beer route. Lakefront Brewery (another sponsor!) has good gluten-free beer made without any gluten ingredients.
    • trents
      Patiently Waiting to See Results

      By trents · Posted

      Welcome to the forum, @catsrlife! Celiac disease can be diagnosed without committing to a full-blown "gluten challenge" if you get a skin biopsy done during an active outbreak of dermatitis herpetiformis, assuming that is what is causing the rash. There is no other known cause for dermatitis herpetiformis so it is definitive for celiac disease. You would need to find a dermatologist who is familiar with doing the biopsy correctly, however. The samples need to be taken next to the pustules, not on them . . . a mistake many dermatologists make when biopsying for dermatitis herpetiformis. 
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.