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What Bariatric Vitamins Do I Need?



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Which bariatric Vitamins do I need before and after surgery?” or “Do I need Vitamins if I am losing weight without surgery?

These are some of the most common questions for dieters and weight loss surgery patients before and after surgery. There are so many choices, so how do you know which ones to take?

The answer is: it depends!

As always, you should check with your own doctor and healthcare team before taking any supplements.

Here is a cheat sheet I posted on the BariatricPal Store for the Vitamin and other nutritional supplements you may need before and after weight loss surgery. When applicable, these guidelines are consistent with the latest guidelines from the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS).

As always, you should check with your own doctor and healthcare team before taking any supplements.

Bariatric Vitamins Before Surgery

Before surgery, your goal is to make sure you are completely nourished. This will make surgery safer and promote healthy metabolism. Choose from Patches, pills, or chewableforms – whatever is easiest for you.

You may need:

Bariatric Vitamins for Gastric Sleeve Patients

Gastric sleeve (or vertical sleeve gastrectomy) can cause nutrient deficiencies because of your restricted food intake. These are the nutrient supplements you are likely to need.

You might also want to test your blood levels of thiamin, iron, Vitamin A, vitamins D, E, and K, and the minerals copper, zinc, and selenium. You may need liquids, chewable supplements or soft chews, or patches immediately post-op because swallowing can be difficult. You may be able to tolerate swallowing capsules or soft gels a few weeks after your surgery.

Bariatric Vitamins for Gastric Bypass Patients

Gastric bypass (or roux-en-Y gastric bypass) increases nutrient deficiency risk because it interferes with nutrient absorption AND because of your restricted food intake. These are the likely supplements you may need.

You might also want to test your blood levels of thiamin, iron, vitamin A, vitamins D, E, and K, and the minerals copper, zinc, and selenium. You may need liquids, chewable supplements or soft chews, or patches immediately post-op because swallowing can be difficult. You may be able to tolerate swallowing capsules or soft gels a few weeks after your surgery.

Bariatric Vitamins for Gastric Band (Lap-Band) Patients

Gastric band (or Lap-Band) does not interfere with nutrient absorption, but your nutrient intake from food can be inadequate because of your restricted diet. These are the likely supplements you may need.

You might also want to test your blood levels of thiamin, vitamin B12, and other B vitamins. You may need liquids, chewable supplements or soft chews, or patches immediately post-op because swallowing can be difficult. You may be able to tolerate swallowing capsules or soft gels.

Bariatric Vitamins for Duodenal Switch Patients

Duodenal switch increases nutrient deficiency risk because it interferes with nutrient absorption AND because of your restricted food intake. These are the likely supplements you may need.

You might also want to test your blood levels of thiamin, iron, vitamin A, vitamins D, E, and K, and the minerals copper, zinc, and selenium. You may need liquids, chewable supplements or soft chews, or patches immediately post-op because swallowing can be difficult. You may be able to tolerate swallowing capsules or soft gels a few weeks after your surgery.

Bariatric Vitamins for Mini Gastric Bypass Patients

Mini Gastric Bypass increases nutrient deficiency risk because it interferes with nutrient absorption AND because of your restricted food intake – similarly to gastric bypass. These are the likely supplements you may need.

You might also want to test your blood levels of thiamin, iron, vitamin A, vitamins D, E, and K, and the minerals copper, zinc, and selenium.. You may need liquids, chewable supplementsor soft chews, or patches immediately post-op because swallowing can be difficult. You may be able to tolerate swallowing capsules or soft gels a few weeks after your surgery.

What Vitamins Do I Need If I Didn’t Get Weight Loss Surgery?

Your nutrient absorption does not change if you do not get weight loss surgery. Still, you may need vitamin and mineral supplements because you are taking in much less food than you were before you started losing weight.

A multivitamin and mineral supplement with folic acid and vitamin B12 is a good idea for almost everyone! You might also want to ask your doctor to test your levels of iron, calcium and vitamin D, and vitamin B12 and folic acid.

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Good old Flintstones chewables were what my VSG surgeon said would work just fine for me.

They available at every grocery store I've ever looked for them in.

Taste great and very economical.

My 12 month blood work came back happy over Flintstones, too.

No need to overthink this one, folks.....that is if your surgeon did their job in counseling you properly....and you paid attention.

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My surgeon also recommended flinsto.es chewables, for preop, 1 a day and post op ill have to take 2 a day.

Sent from my SM-N920V using the BariatricPal App

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Good old Flintstones chewables were what my VSG surgeon said would work just fine for me.

They available at every grocery store I've ever looked for them in.

Taste great and very economical.

My 12 month blood work came back happy over Flintstones, too.

No need to overthink this one, folks.....that is if your surgeon did their job in counseling you properly....and you paid attention.

Surgeons and nutritionists argue about this topic often. I mostly agree with you. Flintstones Vitamins don't include everything "suggested" by the ASMBS. Flintstones *MIGHT* be ok for certain Gastric Sleeve or Lap-Band patients but they're definitely not adequate for patients that have undergone malabsorptive procedures like Gastric Bypass or Duodenal Switch who require at least 200% RDA.

I know many Gastric Sleeve patients that don't use any Vitamins or supplementation whatsoever. They just eat an extremely healthy diet and get their vitamins and minerals from their diet. This is easily accomplished but one must make sure to take their blood work on a regular basis.

Keep doing whatever you're doing, as long as your blood work keeps coming back good.

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Unfortunately my surgeon said absolutely no Flintstones or gummies so I am choking down other chewables. They taste horrible; I've tried 3 different brands so far...

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Unfortunately my surgeon said absolutely no Flintstones or gummies so I am choking down other chewables. They taste horrible; I've tried 3 different brands so far...

Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

My surgeon was yes on Flinstones, although I've switched to Centrum chewables (with his approval) because the flavor is less cloying. He's an absolute no on Patches, because the patch companies have thus far not shared research or proven that Patches work. I also take liquid B12 once a day and his office advised I should start on Calcium chewables as well.

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My NUT, Cleveland clinic is mortified some surgeons recommend Flintstones. They give us a long list to chose from.

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@@trekker954, I'm curious... What's your doctors issue w/Flinstone?

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I just had to look up Flintstones Vitamins on Amazon (I'm in Germany). They look interesting but are way too expensive here to give them a shot out of curiosity.

I guess they're kind of cheap in the US compared to other Vitamins?

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I'm not sure, it was the nutritionist who had just returned from some Bariatric seminar. She's pretty well renowned, Lillian Craggs and speaks at many of these types of things and writes papers. We just had a monthly group session and there is a Q&A before we start on the topic. Someone asked about Vitamins. I know CCF doesn't recommend specific ones and the patch MD which I use isn't even listed, although she is okay with me using them especially my blood work came back okay. But she did make that comment about not understanding WHY some surgeons recommend Flintstones. Maybe its high in sugar? not sure.

I know that that nutritionist doesn't always agree even with their own surgeons when it comes to WLS patient meal plans either. I think surgeons are easier than the nutritionist are is my take-a-way on the topic.

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Well, a surgeon is a surgeon. A nutritionist is a nutritionist. Two entirely different job profiles.

I wouldn't expect a surgeon knowing as much about nutrition as a nutritionist any more than expecting a nutritionist being able to perform an appendectomy.

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My surgeon and his team, who is top-rated in his state, recommended Flinstones as well.

Same here. Flinstones chewables or Centrum chewables. No gummies, ever. And no Patches because they haven't been scientifically vetted in any peer-review journals.

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    • Prdgrdma

      So I guess after gastric bypass surgery, I cant eat flock chips because they are fried???  They sell them on here so I thought I could have them. So high in protein and no carbs.  They don't bother me at all.  Help. 
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        It's possible for a very high fat meal to cause dumping in some (30% or so) gastric bypass patients, although it's more likely to be triggered by high sugar, or by the high fat/high sugar combo (think ice cream, donuts). Dietitians will tell you to never do anything that isn't 100% healthy ever again. Realistically, you should aim for a good balance of protein, carbs, and fat each day. Should you eat fried foods every day? No. Is it possible they will make you sick? Maybe. Is it okay to eat some to see what happens and have them for a treat every now and again? Yes.

    • NovelTee

      I'm not at all hungry on this liquid pre-op diet, but I miss the sensation of chewing. It's been about two weeks––surgery is in two days––and I can't imagine how I'll feel a couple of weeks post-op. Tonight, I randomly stumbled upon a mukbang channel on YouTube, and it was strangely soothing... is it just me, or is this a thing? 
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        I actually watched cooking shows during my pre-op, like Great British Baking Show. It was a little bizarre, but didn't make me hungry. I think it was also soothing in a way.

    • Clueless_girl

      How do you figure out what your ideal weight should be? I've had a figure in my head for years, but after 3 mths of recovery I'm already almost there. So maybe my goal should be lower?
      · 3 replies
      1. NickelChip

        Well, there is actually a formula for "Ideal Body Weight" and you can use a calculator to figure it out for you. This one also does an adjusted weight for a person who starts out overweight or obese. https://www.mdcalc.com/calc/68/ideal-body-weight-adjusted-body-weight

        I would use that as a starting point, and then just see how you feel as you lose. How you look and feel is more important than a number.

      2. Clueless_girl

        I did find different calculators but I couldn't find any that accounted for body frame. But you're right, it is just a number. It was just disheartening to see that although I lost 60% of my excess weight, it's still not in the "normal/healthy" range..

      3. NickelChip

        I think it's important to remember that the weight charts and BMI ranges were developed a very long time ago and only intended to be applied to people who have never been overweight or obese. Those numbers aren't for us. When you are larger, especially for a long time, your body develops extra bone to support the weight. Your organs get a little bigger to handle the extra mass. Your entire infrastructure increases so you can support and function with the extra weight. That doesn't all go away just because you burn off the excess fat. If you still had a pair of jeans from your skinniest point in life and then lost weight to get to the exact number on the scale you were when those jeans fit you, chances are they would be a little baggy now because you would actually be thinner than you were, even though the scale and the BMI chart disagree. When in doubt, listen to the jeans, not the scale!

    • Aunty Mamo

      Tomorrow marks two weeks since surgery day and while I'm feeling remarkably well and going about just about every normal activity, I did wind up with a surface abscess on on of my incision sights and was put on an antibiotic that made me so impacted that it took me more than two hours to eliminate yesterday and scared the hell out of me. Now there's Miralax in all my beverages that aren't Smooth Move tea. I cannot experience that again. I shouldn't have to take Ativan to go to the lady's. I really looking forward to my body getting with the program again. 
      I'm in day three of the "puree" stage of eating and despite the strange textures, all of the savory flavors seem decadent. 
      I timed this surgery so that I'd be recovering during my spring break. That was a good plan. Today is a state holiday and the final day of break. I feel really strong to return to school tomorrow. 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Now that I'm in maintenance mode, I'm getting a into a routine for my meals. Every day, I start out with 8-16 ounces of water, and then a proffee, which I have come to look forward to even the night before. My proffees are simply a black coffee with a protein powder added. There are three products that I cycle through: Premier Vanilla, Orgain Vanilla, and Dymatize Vanilla.
      For second breakfast on workdays, I will have a low-fat yogurt with two tablespoons of PBFit and two teaspoons of no sugar added dried cherries. I will have ingested 35-45 grams of protein at this point between the two breakfasts, with 250-285 calories, and about 20 carbs.
      For second breakfast on non-workdays, I will prepare two servings of plain, instant oatmeal with a tablespoon of an olive oil-based spread. This means I will have had 34 grams of protein, 365 calories, and 38 carbs. Non-workdays are when I am being very active with training sessions, so I allow myself more carbohydrate fuel.
      Snacks on any day are always mixed nuts, even when I am travelling. I will have 0.2 cups of a blend that I make myself. It consists of dry roasted peanuts, cashews, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, pistachios, and Brazil nuts. This is 5 grams of protein, 163 calories, and 7 carbs.
      Breakfast and snacks have been the easiest to nail down. Lunch and dinner have more variables, and I prepare enough for leftovers. I concentrate on protein first, and then add vegetables. Typically tempeh, tofu, or Field Roast products with roasted or sautéed vegetables. Today, I will be eating leftovers from last night. Two ounces of tempeh with four ounces of roasted vegetables that consist of red and yellow sweet peppers, sweet potatoes, small purple potatoes, zucchini, and carrots. I will add a tablespoon of olive oil-based spread, break up 3 walnuts to sprinkle of top, and garnish with two tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese. This particular meal will be 19 grams of protein, 377 calories, and 28 grams of carbs. Bear in mind that I do eat more carbs when I am not working, and I focus on ingesting healthy carbs instead of breads/crackers/chips/crisps.
      It's a helluva journey and I'm thankful to be on it!
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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