Are B-12 Shots Beneficial for Crohn s Disease Sufferers?
Crohn s disease involves a chronic inflammation of the intestines, and it exists in varying levels of severity. Researchers have yet to unravel the cause, and, unfortunately, there is no cure. However, new medications and therapies are now helping toprovide some relief. For more information on the disease, contact the Crohns and Colitis Foundation of America at 800/932-2423; or check out the foundations Web site at www.ccfa.org. Vitamin B-12 is present almost exclusively in foods of animal origin, including most meats (especially organ meats), eggs and dairy products (especially yogurt), but vegetarian foods are sometimes fortified with B-12. What is interesting about vitamin B-12 is that two separate components must be present for the vitamin to make it into the body. The first component is the vitamin itself, which is present either in foods or in a supplement. The second component is a protein manufactured by the body, referred to as the “intrinsic factor,” that combines with the vi
