Specific nutrients needed to sustain healthy life after surgery

[Dallas Powell 23]

I have been doing some research on nutrients needed to sustain a healthy life after the malabsorptive forms of bariatric surgery such as the bypass or sleeve. I found recommendations from 3 reputable sources. The U.S. Navy, The Cleveland Clinic and John's Hopkins Medical Center. The 3 had some slightly varied information and nutrients needed to survive without health issues. I compiled their suggestions into one document and am posting that below.

I would like to know if anyone out there has found any good Multivitamin that combines everything that is needed listed below in the quantities suggested with exception maybe of the calcium citrate and D3 that should be taken separately? Specifically what combination of supplements are you taking?

It's suggested that with all Vitamins take ONLY in liquid or chewable form (pills may be OK after 6 months but liquid or chewable is most absorbable. Never take gummy):
100 percent of the recommended daily value of A,E, K, B’s (at least 500 mcg per day of B12), 500mg of C taken with the Iron, 36 mg of “elemental” Iron, 10-20mg of Zinc, 800 mcg of folic acid & trace minerals, 500mg of magnesium, 3mg of thiamine, 2mg of copper and selenium. Trace minerals are best from humic acid rather than seawater as seawater is trace to the degree that you really aren’t consuming hardly anything.
(Take with food to help absorption, do not take with dairy products.)

An additional product:
500-600 mg minimum of “elemental” Calcium citrate 3 times a day and 3,000 to 5,000 iu of D3.
(Take 2 hours apart from iron which can be in the multi. D is best absorbed with food and it helps the calcium citrate absorb.)

*Menstruating women need additional iron. If multi contains iron, take an additional 18-29 mg of “elemental iron.” Total intake should be 54-65 mg of iron per day.

*The amino acids needed to sustain life can come from eating meat. You can’t get all nutrients just from the multi. And there are 100’s of phytonutrients needed in fruits, vegetables, Beans, nuts, seeds

Edited September 29, 2015 by Dallas Powell

[Inner Surfer Girl 12,015]

I don't have one multi-Vitamin that has everything like you are looking for. Bariatric Advantage has bariatric Vitamins that may but I don't like big horse pills so don't mind taking individuals. I take a multi and a D3 in the morning. I take Iron and chewable C with a meal when I am not eating dairy/calcium. I take the rest (D+K, B-12, B-1, and calcium chews after another meal or snack.< /p>

I follow my surgeon's guidelines as to amounts.

I have taken all of these, in pill form, since a week after surgery.

[padremama 101]

I take a liquid Vitamin "balanced essentials". And a separate Calcium and d. I can not take Iron so it doesn't include that.

My test results are better than they have ever been. I asked for a "b12" shot at dr's last week and she said I didn't need one.

[BLERDgirl 6,417]

These are all good guidelines, but also shows the importance of having regular bloodwork done to check your levels. The first 60 days I used KIND multivitamin 2x's a day crushed . It's a whole food based Vitamin. I also used Calcium that I bought from Whole Foods. Can't recall the brand. Once I could swallow pills and the KIND ran out, I switched to Centrium. My program does not allow gummies. I haven't needed B12 since 6mths out. I currently take 1 multi a day

12,000mgs of calcium citrate and I forget the dosage of D3. I just had my 1 year follow up and all my bloodwork was good.

[swimbikerun 1,046]

What is your food intake like? What is the composition of that? Your exercise regimen? That should determine what you need. The sleeve has no malapsorptive component (unless you get unlucky like me) and for RNY, I've seen 1 study that said at 2 years the intestines compensate for most of what was lost.

[Threetimesacharm 1,400]

The sleeve is NOT a malabsorptive procedure. Only the gastric bypass and duodenal switch are.

[OKCPirate 5,323]

@@Dallas Powell - Iron/calcium should be taken 4 hours apart from each other.

I hate to tell you this, but you are heading into the most speculative world of medicine there is outside of hormones and neurology. All you can do is make your best guess and check your blood work. There are some new companies that will give you really good blood work at very good prices if you want to bypass your insurance company. Feel free to message me if you want the links.

[_Kate_ 2,224]

I take a full multi Vitamin (Centrum Advantage) morning and evening, Vit D morning, Vitamin C Morning and then a Calcichew with D3Forte three times a day (2 hrs apart from my Multi's)

Two weeks ago I had my full bloods and they were perfect. No issues at all and I don't need the additional B12 injections or Iron I thought I may need to have. I had a copy of the results sent to me so I can see for myself lol

[swimbikerun 1,046]

@@OKCPirate If they are using saliva testing, then it is hookus science. Aka woo.

[OKCPirate 5,323]

@@swimbikerun - Yep, agree, I was thinking: https://www.insidetracker.com/

[berkannie1 2]

Hello ... I take a multi-Vitamin, and it really seems to have everything in it that you're looking for ... AND it was the one suggested by my Nutritionist. I take a Bariatric chewable from ProCare Health. It's a "one a day" chewable. I checked the supplement values, and it has everything you're basically looking for. The one I take says it's orange flavored, but it really doesn't taste like orange ... it's not horrible tasting, but it's not great tasting either. I like it because it's the only pill I take in the morning, and then I take my Calcium chews later in the day & evening. I hope this helps!!! Best of luck to you!!

[talkingmountain 83]

I wanted the simplest possible regimen so I take Celebrate 2-in-1 and a generic iron+C pill.

The Celebrate 2-on-1 sold only on the Celebrate website and on Amazon. It has everything except Iron (because it has the Calcium, they keep Iron out of it). It tastes like a grainy sweet-tart (emphasis on the tart!). It contains a sugar alcohol, unfortunately, so it makes me quite gassy for a little while after taking it.

[swimbikerun 1,046]

I had other GI issues before and now after the sleeve. These do include problems with absorbing food. Its why I made the distinction.

The sleeve is NOT a malabsorptive procedure. Only the gastric bypass and duodenal switch are.