Vitamins After Bariatric Surgery

Vitamins After Bariatric Surgery

Vitamins after bariatric surgery

Taking vitamins after bariatric surgery is essential to boosting your immunity and staying healthy as you lose excess weight. Vitamins can reduce your risk for conditions like anemia, osteoporosis and memory loss that can occur on behalf of nutritional deficiencies.

Here’s a list of vitamins you should take after having bariatric surgery and information on contacting Advanced Laparoscopic Associates if you need help managing your health while losing weight.

Why Vitamins Are Important After Bariatric Surgery

Bariatric surgery significantly reduces the size of your stomach—leaving enough room for only the healthiest of foods. Taking vitamins helps ensure you are meeting all your nutritional needs, especially if you are unable to meet all those needs from foods alone.

Also, some bariatric procedures that involve rerouting of the intestine—such as gastric bypass surgery—are malabsorptive. This means that your body will absorb fewer calories and nutrients from the foods you eat. Vitamins can help you avoid nutritional deficiencies after a weight-loss surgery that affects how you absorb nutrients.

Which Vitamins Are Recommended After Bariatric Surgery?

Your bariatric surgeon will talk to you at length about the importance of taking vitamins for life following your surgery and recommend the best types to include in your supplementation regimen.

Multivitamin

A complete multivitamin contains all the recommended amounts of vitamins and minerals you need daily. Make sure the multivitamin has at least 200% of the recommended daily intake (RDI) for most, if not all, vitamins and minerals listed on the label.

Calcium

Calcium contributes to strong bones and reduces your risk for osteoporosis. Take between 1,200 and 1,500 mg of calcium per day if you had gastric sleeve surgery or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, and between 1,800 and 2,400 mg per day if you had duodenal switch surgery.

Vitamin D3

Your body needs vitamin D3 to absorb calcium. Take 3,000 international units or 75 mcg of vitamin D3 every day. If this amount isn’t already included in your multivitamin or calcium supplements, take extra as needed to meet the RDI.

Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 is essential for brain health and for boosting immunity and energy. Take at least 500 mcg of vitamin B12 per day.

Iron

Iron is responsible for making hemoglobin—a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout your body. Iron supplementation reduces your risk for anemia. The recommended daily iron intake is 8 mg for adult males and 18 mg for adult females.

What to Look for in a Bariatric Vitamin

When choosing bariatric vitamins, try sticking to chewable or dissolvable varieties, as you may have difficulty swallowing pills after bariatric surgery. Avoid gummies, which often lack the recommended amounts of vitamins and minerals. Use quality brands you can trust, and choose affordable brands you can continue to buy indefinitely.


If you are interested in weight-loss surgery, request an appointment with Advanced Laparoscopic Associates by calling (201) 646-1121. We can talk to you about your weight-loss goals to determine if you’re an ideal candidate for bariatric surgery.