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Gastric Bypass Vitamins
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You MUST Take Gastric Bypass Vitamins
Research shows that vitamin and nutrient deficiencies are common following roux-en-y gastric bypass weight loss surgery.
Translation: You'll need to take gastric bypass vitamins for the rest of your life following your roux-en-y weight loss surgery in order to avoid and/or minimize potential nutritional complications.
Skip ahead to list of bariatric supplements you need to take.
Potential Nutrients Deficiencies Following Gastric Bypass Surgery
- Iron
- B12
- Folate
- Calcium
For the rest of your life after gastric bypass surgery, you're at high risk of deficiency for Iron and Vitamin B12 and at significant risk for deficiency and/or have an increased requirements for Folate and Calcium.
You'll therefore need the following gastric bypass vitamins and bariatric supplements:
- A high quality multivitamin (use chewable formula for 1-3 month after surgery)
- Calcium
- Iron
- B12
My Professional Recommendation: The Best Bariatric Vitamins
I like Bariatric Advantage's gastric bypass vitamins.
Yes, you can find cheaper vitamins in the drugstore, but Bariatric Advantage's gastric bypass vitamins are specifically formulated to meet the needs of gastric bypass patients. Why would you even want to take anything other?!
Bariatric Advantage Chewable Multivitamin Formula: For use in the first 3 months after surgery when chewable vitamins are necessary (and forever after that if you prefer chewable vitamins vs. capsules). Take 2 per day or follow your doctor's recommendations. Available in Berry, Tropical, and Orange flavor.
Bariatric Advantage Multivitamin Capsules: If you prefer to swallow your vitamins vs. chewing them, you can switch to a capsule after ~ 3 months following surgery. The downside...This is no one-a-day formula! You'll need to take 6 capsules per day!
Bariatric Advantage Calcium Citrate: FORM Matters....The form of calcium you take, that is! Due to a decrease in stomach acid after roux-en-y gastric bypass surgery, you need to take Calcium Citrate (vs. Calcium Carbonate) following gastric bypass surgery. Choose from:
- Calcium Citrate Lozenges
- These calcium citrate lozenges have zero calories as compared to many other calcium chews on the market that usually contain 20- 35 calories per chew. Take 3/day or as otherwise directed by your doctor. Available in Chocolate, Cherry, Mint, and Cinnamon flavor.
- Calcium Citrate Chewy Bites:
- If you prefer a chewy texture and a slightly sweeter taste, try these calcium chews. Available in Chocolate, Lemon, Mixed Berry flavor. Take 6/day or as otherwise directed by your doctor.
- Calcium Citrate Crystals
- A unique form of calcium that dissolves readily in most liquids leaving minimal taste. Easy to add to protein smoothies! Available in Raspberry and Lemon Lime flavor. Take 4 level scoops/day or as otherwise directed by your doctor.
Bariatric Advantage Chewable Iron: Available in 18mg dose and a 29mg dose when higher amounts are needed. Take 1/day. Note: Don't take the higher dose unless recommended by your doctor.
I love this iron formulation because it has vitamin C mixed in. Vitamin C helps your body absorb iron. As a dietitian, I usually have to recommend taking iron supplements with vitamin C rich foods (e.g., OJ or strawberries) but with this formula I don't! The vitamin C is already worked right in!
Available in Strawberry, Passion Fruit, and Lemon Lime flavors that I personally think tastes like Sweet Tarts!
Bariatric Advantage Sublingual B12: To take these properly, place under your tongue and let the tablet dissolve. Available in Cherry flavor.
Can I Take a Standard Multivitamin and Call it a Day?
NO!!!
As a roux-en-y gastric bypass patient, you have special needs and should therefore take vitamins formulated to those special needs. It just makes sense...
...gastric bypass patients should take gastric bypass vitamins!
So start taking your bariatric supplements....and never stop.
How to Fit in All Your Gastric Bypass Vitamins:
Breakfast
- 1 Bariatric Advantage Chewable Multivitamin (Berry, Tropical or Orange Flavor)
- 1 Bariatric Advantage Calcium Citrate Lozenge (Chocolate, Cherry, Mint, Cinnamon Flavor)
Lunch
- 1 Bariatric Advantage Calcium Citrate Lozenge
- 1 Bariatric Advantage Sublingual B12
Supper/Dinner
- 1 Bariatric Advantage Chewable Multivitamin
- 1 Bariatric Advantage Calcium Citrate Lozenge
Bedtime
1 Bariatric Advantage Chewable Iron
Beside Keeping You Healthy, Gastric Bypass Vitamins May Help You Lose Weight!
Two studies published in November 2007 in the British Journal of Nutrition indicate that taking a multivitamin and mineral supplement may assist in weight management.
The first study reported on a survey of 267 men and 320 women aged 20 to 65.
The survey found that men regularly taking a dietary supplement weighed less, had less body fat, and lower BMI than those who did not. Women reported similar results, as well as generally reduced appetite.
In the second study, obese patients were placed on a low calorie diet and either given a multivitamin or placebo. While both group lost weight equally, those taking the multivitamin reported significantly reduced hunger both between and after meals.
G.C. Major, E. Doucet, M. Jacqmain, M. St-Onge, C. Bouchard, and A. Tremblay. Multivitamin and dietary supplements, body weight and appetite: results from a cross-sectional and a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled study. Br J Nutr. 2007 Nov 1;:1-11
Probiotics May Be Helpful After Gastric Bypass Too
Taking probiotics after gastric bypass surgery improves weight loss, vitamin B12 availability and bacterial growth, according to a new study from Stanford University.
The study (J Gastrointest Surg. 2009 Jul;13(7):1198-204) examined 44 patients who received either a daily supplement of 2.4 billion colonies of Lactobacillus or a placebo after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery. Both groups were allowed to eat yogurt, a natural form of probiotics.
After six weeks, the probiotic group attained significantly greater percent weight loss than that of control group. The weight loss trend continued at three months with the probiotics group losing 47.6 percent of their weight, compared with a 38.5 percent reduction for the control group, but was not significant six months after the surgery.
At three months, significantly higher vitamin B12 levels were achieved in the probiotic group (1,214 picograms per milliliter in the probiotic group vs. 811 pg/mL in the control group). At six months, a statistically significant reduction in bacterial overgrowth was shown in the probiotic group as well.
Are YOU properly stocked with the best gastric bypass vitamins? If not...
...what are you waiting for?!
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