Important Nutrients
• Zinc
• Iron
• Calcium
• Vitamin A
• Vitamin D
• Vitamin E
• Vitamin K

Vitamin A
What?
Vitamin A—a fat-soluble vitamin that can also be made from beta-carotene.

Where?
Vitamin A is found in egg yolks, milk, liver and fortified cereals. Good sources of beta-carotene include dark green or orange fruits and vegetables like carrots, sweet potatoes, winter squash, spinach, broccoli, apricots, cantaloupe and peaches.

Why do I need Vitamin A?
Vitamin A plays an important part in vision, healthy bones, and the immune system. Beta-carotene keeps our tissues healthy.

It is very difficult to get this much vitamin D from foods.  That is why your CF team recommends a special multivitamin made for people with CF which contains a form of vitamin D which is easily absorbed by people with CF.

Vitamin D
What? 
Vitamin D—a vitamin that the body absorbs with fat.

Where?
Vitamin D is found in fortified milk, liver, salmon and fortified cereals. Your body can also make vitamin D while you’re exposed to the sun, but it is important not to get too much sun because of the risk of skin cancer. Talk to your CF team about the right amount of sun for you.

Why do I need Vitamin D?
Vitamin D helps you build strong bones by keeping the right amount of calcium and phosphorus in the blood. Without enough vitamin D, your bones can become thin and are more likely to break

Vitamin E
What?
Vitamin E—a fat-soluble vitamin.

Where?
Vitamin E is found in vegetable oils, wheat germ, green leafy vegetables and fortified cereals.

Why do I need Vitamin E?
Vitamin E is an antioxidant, which means that it protects compounds in the body from being oxidized, or damaged. Vitamin E also keeps red blood cells, the lining of the intestine, and the lungs healthy.

Vitamin K
What?
Vitamin K is a vitamin that the body absorbs with fat. 

Where?
Vitamin K is found in dark green leafy vegetables like spinach, broccoli and turnip greens. Vitamin K is also made by bacteria in the intestine.

Why do I need Vitamin K?
Some people on long-term antibiotic therapy may need extra vitamin K because the antibiotics can kill the bacteria that make vitamin K in the intestine. 

Calcium
What?
Calcium is a mineral that is important for strong bones and teeth. 

Where?
Found in milk, cheese, yogurt, beans and calcium fortified foods. Eight ounces of milk has about 300 milligrams of calcium. If you do not like calcium rich foods, you may be able to take calcium supplements to meet your needs.

Why do I need calcium?
Calcium is the building block for strong bones and teeth.  Calcium also helps your muscles, especially your heart, work properly.

Zinc
What?
Zinc is a mineral that is important for strong bones and teeth. 

Where?
Zinc is found in oysters, red meat, poultry, beans, nuts, whole grains, fortified breakfast cereals and dairy products. The zinc from animal sources is absorbed better than zinc from plant sources.        

Why do I need zinc?
Zinc is important for our ability to grow and fight off disease.

Iron
What?
Iron is a mineral that is an important part of the blood.

Where?
Iron is found in red meat, poultry, beans, nuts, seafood and fortified foods. The iron from animal sources is absorbed better than iron from plant sources.

Why do I need iron?
Iron helps deliver oxygen to cells in your body and maintain your energy. 

How much iron do I need?
Your CF team can help you figure out how much iron is right for you.