Vitamins and supplements are a very important part of your post-surgery routine.
MANDATORY FOR ANY GASTRIC BYPASS OR SADI-S VITAMINS AND SUPPLEMENTS FOR LIFE.
With a smaller tummy, it can be difficult to get all the necessary vitamins and minerals from foods alone. We want to help you maintain proper nutrition and good health and energy after surgery. Our bariatric doctors recommend taking the following vitamins, minerals, and supplements after your surgery. These are only recommendations, make sure to consult with your doctor at home as well. After your post-surgery labs are completed, you may need to adjust accordingly.
Bariatric Multi-Vitamins
Start taking bariatric multi-vitamins within 5 to 7 days upon your return home. You are eating less food, and good quality bariatric multi-vitamin and mineral supplements will help guard against nutritional deficiencies. We say “bariatric” multi-vitamins are best, at least for the first year post-surgery. (After one year, a standard dose adult multi-vitamin may be considered according to lab results)
These vitamins are formulated specifically for weight loss surgery patients. They contain much higher doses than standard adult multivitamins and are strongly recommended during the first year post-surgery. After one year, it may not be required to take these higher doses so getting follow-up lab work is necessary to determine this.
Amazon has a huge selection of bariatric multi-vitamins and supplements available. These high dose formulas may be taken for the first year post-op. If you are unable to get the bariatric multi-vitamins, then make sure you have a good quality regular multi-vitamin and take 2 the for the first year post-surgery.
Vitamin D
Preoperative Vitamin D deficiency is very common so a Vitamin D3 supplement with at least 3,000 – 6,000 IU a day is recommended after the surgery. Routine assessment of this vitamin should be considered as it’s deficiency may lead to bone loss.
Calcium
Take a calcium or calcium citrate chew daily, 1200 – 1500 mg for sleeve, mini bypass or RNY bypass patients and 1800 – 2400 mg for SADI-S. Bone loss due to calcium deficiency can be a risk after all types of bariatric surgery. Remember that if you take a great bariatric multi-vitamin, check the label because it may already contain some calcium. Take the calcium in three separate smaller doses of 500 mg throughout the day for better absorption.
B-12 Sublingual Tablets
Take a 500mcg to 1000mcg B12 sublingual tablet daily. This is important because with a gastric sleeve procedure, because you will not metabolize the B12 in the stomach the same as you did before surgery. Stomach acid helps to release B12 as well as Intrinsic Factor (produced by the stomach and is necessary for the absorption of B12 in the small intestine). The B12 supplements are available in several forms. We prefer that you have the sub lingual tablets. They work excellent and it’s the preferred route to get in your B 12 supplements.
* While B12 supplements are available in an injection format, due to safety and convenience, we encourage our patients to purchase the sublingual B12 tablets.
Iron
Iron (18mg. to 60mg) or FeSo4 may need to be taken. Low iron can be an issue after weight loss surgery, especially if you are or were anemic before surgery or have a bypass. Iron is better absorbed with vitamin C. Please do not take iron at the same time as your calcium because it decreases the amount of iron absorbed by the body. We encourage all patients to follow their doctor’s instructions, but you may wait until you have your 3-month post-operative lab work completed to see if it is necessary to take extra iron.
There are a couple types of iron: heme-iron and non-heme iron. Heme-iron is better absorbed by our bodies. Examples of heme-iron are meat, fish, and poultry. Examples of non-heme iron are plants, cereals, and lentils.
Note: Interactions with Minerals Levothyroxine interacts with minerals such as iron, calcium, and magnesium, which lowers the activity of thyroid medicine. Many antacids contain magnesium and aluminum, so avoid taking them when you are on the thyroid supplement levothyroxine. If you take iron-containing products, such as multi-vitamins with iron, make sure you do so at least two hours before or after you take your thyroid medication. If you take calcium, make sure there is at least four hours between taking the two kinds of medications.
