I noticed the Vitamin C in the Emergen-C packets is listed:

(as ascorbic acid, zinc ascorbate, and chromium ascorbate)

Isn't the ascorbic acid contraindicated for IBD sufferers?

Heather

Hi, Heather.

That's a good question and I have noticed the same thing on the labels.

Yes, you are correct, too much ascorbic acid will exacerbate diarrhea.

In lieu of contacting the manufacturer and asking for clarification (since the box says 7 different Mineral Ascorbates but the Nutrition Facts include ascorbic acid on several of the flavors), I encourage you to let her try the Emergen-C and see how she responds to it.

I am also diagnosed with Crohn's but I usually have at least two packets of Emergen-C each day and sometimes as many as six or seven (if I have a cold, for instance). I find that my body has no problem at all with this.

It's good.....in fact, crucial.....to educate ourselves, as long as we remember that in the end, it is our own bodies that are going to give us our best information on our healing journeys. Your daughter will be able to tell you, very quickly, whether the Emergen-C is a good thing for her or not.

Nicole

This came up again recently and Jini contacted Alacer, so thought I would share it here for everyone's benefit:

I just talked to Alacer and here's what they said: The ingredients for Emergen-C have actually remained the same, however, due to changes in labeling laws, they now have to list it differently. So here's what happens, as soon as you add water to Emergen-C, the ascorbic acid is converted into mineral ascorbates due to the presence of sodium
bicarbonate.

If you do research on the Internet, you'll see that a common recipe
for vitamin C in ascorbate form is to take ascorbic acid, then add
baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) and water.

So go ahead, but still keep in mind the other things I pointed out -
like taking divided doses, not too much at once, drinking slowly, etc.

Hope this helps!

Nicole