Best Vitamins for the Digestive System
Healthful Vitality | 10/04/2021 | By NP Contributor | Best Vitamins for the Digestive System
For optimal gut, health one needs to know more about the ABCD of vitamins for digestive health. These vitamins may help prevent leaky gut, promote digestion of nutrients. Vitamins may also affect gut health by boosting metabolic processes, influencing nerve health.
Gut health issues are not just about diarrhea and constipation. Many individuals are living with low-grade gut inflammation without ever recognizing that. It is a cause of the leaky gut syndrome, high influx of toxins. Unmanaged leaky gut causes changes in mood, immunity, and brain health.
Vitamin A- One of the Best Vitamins for the Digestive System
It is an essential micronutrient that must come through diet. Carotenoids are potent antioxidants needed for various body functions. Vitamin A is necessary for optimal vision. At the same time, it is essential for maintaining optimal immune responses and gut health.
Studies show that vitamin A plays a vital role in maintaining immune responses in gut. Thus, it may help lower inflammation, prevent leaky gut, boost digestion. In addition, vitamin A facilitates the migration of T cells, dendric cells, and B-type cells.
The effect of vitamin A is not limited to countering inflammation. Experimental studies show that it has a vital role in maintaining microbiota. Studies also show that retinoids (vitamin A metabolites) have antimicrobial properties. The deficiency of retinoids causes skin diseases and the overgrowth of harmful pathogens in the gut.
Vitamin B
It is a vast family of vitamins, with each having a unique role in health. They are water-soluble vitamins, and thus the human body has limited stores of these vitamins. It means that people are always at the risk of developing their deficiencies. Therefore, it is not rare for supplement producers to combine these vitamins in a supplement in the form of a B-complex supplement.
Thus, for example, vitamin B1 helps in the digestion of carbs, B2 plays a role in the metabolism of carbs and fats, B3 boosts the production of gastric juices, and B5 and B7 help maintain motility. And B12 improves gut-brain connectivity.
Some of these vitamins may be produced by gut microbiota, too. However, recent studies show that gut microbiota may also need these vitamins in small amounts to maintain their healthy population.
Vitamin C
Bleeding from gums is one of the early signs of scurvy or vitamin C deficiency. These days, people rarely have a severe vitamin C deficiency. Nonetheless, a study of its deficiency highlights how essential is the vitamin for maintaining connective tissues.
Vitamin C plays a vital role in maintaining gut barrier function. Additionally, it may boost immunity, prevent the overgrowth of pathogens, and even help in detoxification.
Vitamin D: Best Vitamins for the Digestive System
Last but not least. Studies show that it is the most vital vitamin for maintaining gut microbiota, barrier function. In addition, studies show that its deficiency is often associated with altered immune responses. It also helps with the absorption of other vital micronutrients like calcium.
New studies show its deficiency is quite common among those diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease. In addition, vitamin D deficiency is also associated with higher gut inflammation activity and worsening leaky gut syndrome. Vitamins are complex molecules. Science is yet to discover all its health benefits. Their role in metabolism, chronic disease prevention is well known. However, their role in digestive health is often overlooked.
(Also read: Herbal Digestive to Boost Your Digestive Health)