Ulcerative Colitis, Nutrition and Hair Loss

Hi Everyone!  I have a question.  I have been under remission for a long time now.  However I am still super skinny, feel tired, dry scalp and hair loss.  What can I do, I pretty much stopped ulcerative colitis but I hate this.  I know I am suffering from lack of nutrition.  I would appreciate any help or advice!  Thank you very much!

Hi, welcome to Healingwell :) Do you take a multivitamin? I take a vitamin designed for people with Uc and Crohns, it's called Forvia (www.forvia.com) plus I take Biotin 5mgs. I was taking a regular vitamin before but after I switched to Forvia I felt 100% overall and Biotin helps promote hair growth and healthy nails.

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Are you on any medications for your UC?

What foods can you tolerate? Are there foods you have eliminated from your diet completely?

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Kelly, 29

Left sided UC diagnosed 1/98 age 19, Pan colitis diagnosed 1/07
Currently on 4x3 Asacol, Rowasa every other night, back to 30 mg pred.
Waiting for prometheus test to start Immuran
Prontonix once daily for acid reflux, zofran twice daily for nausea

I have not been taking meds for years. I am not on any diets, I do eat out a bit too much.

my suggestion: focus on protein. tofu, eggs, lean meats, whatever you can tolerate. you also might want to pick up some ensure (i had to drink gallons of it after i was in the hospital). they have a kind for lactose intolerant people, which i suggest. it does have some sugar but it also "liquid nutrition" with all kinds of essential vitamins, etc. hope that helps! p.s. i can relate, weight (keep it ON) is one of my most difficult tasks...also (sorry this is long) after the body goes through a trauma of any kind, hair loss can be expected about 4 months later. perhaps you will start to get some back soon??

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diagnosed with cecal volvulus, 2006; two colon resections in the same year
diagnosed with colitis 2007

I was just diagnosed with Left side UC. I have been taking Asacol 400mg 3 tabs 3x day for about 3 weeks. I am pulling out clumps of hair when I blow dry. Any suggestions?

me too, increased to highest doses of mesalamines, 4 tabs 3x daily, mesalamine suppository in day and alternating enemas at nifght. hair is gone! clumps falling, my mom is very sad seeing me.

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Dx:2000, symptoms in '99
Current dx:Colitis in sigmo
Current meds: mesalamine tabs 400mg, supp,enema
Past meds:mesal enema, pred 6 mons,budesonide enema
Homeopathy: chronic sinusitis(started meds sept 2011 feel much better), UC (started feb2011, better than b4)
Diet: fenugreek,salmon, white rice,trying gluten- free(reduced my urgency)
supplements: L-glutamine,digest enzy,biotin,folic,b12

I just started 5 mg folic acid and 5 mg biotin I spread it out thru the day and night. has to be taken with food.

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Dx:2000, symptoms in '99
Current dx:Colitis in sigmo
Current meds: mesalamine tabs 400mg, supp,enema
Past meds:mesal enema, pred 6 mons,budesonide enema
Homeopathy: chronic sinusitis(started meds sept 2011 feel much better), UC (started feb2011, better than b4)
Diet: fenugreek,salmon, white rice,trying gluten- free(reduced my urgency)
supplements: L-glutamine,digest enzy,biotin,folic,b12

Thanks for the advice. I really appreciate any suggestions!

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Tammy R

Hair loss, My doc told me to buy Vitamin Magna B6, it worked for me, I was also told of something else it turned out to be Regain and quite expensive, never tried it so can't comment on that one. try the cheap vitamins first, the other you have to apply to your scalp

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Pancolitis, Diagnosed with UP July 2009, UC October 2010, Pan Colitis August 2011, Male 55. Spain.

The list is getting less
Off all Stereoids at the Mo, yipeee
Salofalk 1g Enema x1 evenings
Claversol 500mg x 6 daily
Amiprazol x 1
Iron x 1
Multi vitamins x 1 daily
Physillium sometimes
Probiotics now and again

Love these suggestions.  My hair is falling out like crazy.  GI thinks it's from Imuran and tells me it should subside....but it's not happening soon enough!!! 

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Diagnosed 10/11
4-Lialda
Rowasa as needed
Imuran as of 12/20
Multi-vitamin, Calcium, Vit. D

Salmon- are you getting any exercise? How about sunlight?

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Left-sided UC diagnosed October 2009.

Current meds: Imuran, Remicade, Canasa, Wellbutrin, flax/fish oil, multivitamin

Failed meds: Asacol, Rowasa

I can vouch for Nioxin as well, my hair was falling out all over the place after a few months on Imuran - I tried biotin and some expensive vitamins from Sephora but the Nioxin shampoo worked instantly!

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22 year old female - Ulcerative Colitis Diagnosed March 2011 -
Hospitalized March 2011, then again November 2011 during bad flares
Lialda worked great for 6 months, then stopped.
I've been on Imuran for 5 months and it doesn't seem to be doing much.
Current Meds:
100mg Imuran
4 Lialda
Rowasa nightly

I too have many of the same symptoms as Salmon. I am a 26 year old male and I was diagnosed with UCD in 2005. I have been in remission since roughly 2009 with only slight / minor flares. From 2005 - 2009 I tried a host of meds - Asacol (did nothing), Azathrioprine (seemed to work well, but several side effects), and of course prednisone during acute flares.

I was a college athlete and still stay active today. My energy levels seem to fluctuate a great deal, however, the biggest problem has been my hair. I used to have a thick head of hair but noticed it began to thin about 6-9 months into taking the Azathrioprine. I have been medication free since 2009, but still my hair has not come back. The spot on my vertex seems to be growing, though quite slowly, while my hair has receded a little further towards the front of my head.

I have tried Rogaine, but with little (if any) noticeable change. I know the problem of hair seems trivial at times, however, it is definitely disconcerting. Any reviews or recommendations, be it for a vitamin, shampoo, etc., would be most appreciated!

Generally, I've heard once you discontinue Azathrioprine the hair loss stops and reverses. Any chance your hair loss could be hereditary and not due to the medication?

Energy level fluctuations seem to be common with uc.

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34; flaring since 1/1/2013 w/3-4 daily bms;
Rx: Daily 50mg 6MP, Lialda, Rowasa, tapering Prednisone now @ 15mg
Dx: 2-2012 ulcerative proctosigmoiditis
Diet: Diet mods and supplements haven't done anything for me.
"You, my friend, have never been in remission during the time I've known you; inflammation in every scope" -quote my GI

Hair loss on pentasa as well.. My suggestion salmon would be blackstrap molasses.. A healthy way to get Vitamins and minerals back into diet. Is meant to help with hairloss also

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Proctitis ??
Pentasa 1g Enema
Slippery elm powder/ Manuka Honey 20+ Active.
Kefir Yogurt.

pharmaceuticals aside (if they're the main cause of your hair loss, you may not be able to do much about it).....the nutrition thing can definitely be a contributor to hair loss. I have really weird bald spots on my legs. Patches where the hair has really, really thinned out. I know my stomach acid is low, which means I'm not able to absorb B vitamins from food (and, I assume, that would also apply to supplements, but not sure about that completely ATM). I added Betaine HCL supplement to my diet to increase stomach acid. Also started taking lemon juice with my meals. Hair is starting to re-grow on my legs. I hope it also re-grows on my head. Just my $0.02.

I have found that supplementing folic acid and iodine (naturally sourced from kelp) through a good quality multi-vitamin helped tremendously. The higher quality vitamins cost more, but work better - at least in my personal experience. I've had luck finding good supplements at my local health food store and also at GIProhealth.com. I'm sure there are other places, but I've found them here, so have looked no further.

I also eliminated grains. Not everyone needs to do this, but in my personal situation, I seemed to absorb nutrients better without them.

I lost so much hair at one point, I had to cut it into a pixie to cover the really thin spots. It took a few months of diet change and supplementing with the vitamins to notice a change. I'm still not back to where I was before the hair loss, but I can no longer see my scalp! So, I'm happy to be moving in the right direction.

I hope you find what works for you!

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Pancolitis - diagnosed in 2001. Have tried 5-ASA, prednisone and Remicade unsuccessfully. Currently, everything but last inch of inflammation is under control by strictly following the SCD. I am always seeking to learn more, and believe it is important for us to work together as a community to support each other and share information! There's always something to learn as long as we're open!