Weight loss surgery decreases the body’s ability to absorb vitamins and nutrients and/or restricts the amount of food you can consume. This can result in malnutrition, or vitamin and mineral deficiencies, that can be damaging to your health.
Vitamins and minerals are needed after surgery so the body can heal properly. Note: All patients should take daily vitamins for a lifetime to avoid nutritional deficiencies.
Chewable, liquid or crushed forms of vitamins are preferred for the first 6 weeks during the liquid and soft diet phase.
Transition to tablets or capsules is appropriate at that point.
Gummy vitamins should be avoided due to added sugars and insufficient vitamin contents.
Vitamin Patches are not recommended due to unclear effectiveness.
Your vitamin levels should be checked beginning at 6 weeks and then periodically to ensure proper supplementation and avoid deficiencies.
Multivitamin
Over the counter multivitamin must be complete and should contain iron. Should contain at least 200% Daily Value for most contents. Specialized Bariatric Multivitamins may prevent the need for additional vitamin D or B supplementation.
Calcium
Calcium citrate is the preferred form due to better absorption. Calcium should include vitamin D. Individual dose should be 500-600 mg taken 2-3 times per day. Should not be taken with iron (whether contained in multivitamin or additional iron supplement) due to absorption problems.
Vitamin D
You may need additional vitamin D 3000-5000 IU per day if instructed to do so.
Vitamin B-12
You may need additional vitamin B-12. Options include 1000 mcg sublingual daily, 500 mcg nasal spray weekly, 1000 mcg injection monthly.
Vitamin B-1 (Thiamin)
A B-complex vitamin 50 mg daily may be recommended.
Iron
Additional iron may be needed particularly for menstruating females or for patients with anemia. Should not be taken with calcium due to absorption problems.
Sleeve Gastrectomy Initial Vitamin Recommendations
- Complete multivitamin (2/day) or Bariatric multivitamin
- Calcium with vitamin D
Gastric Bypass Initial Vitamin Recommendations
- Complete multivitamin (4/day)
- Calcium with vitamin D
- Vitamin B-12
- B-complex vitaminor
- Bariatric multivitamin
- Calcium with vitamin D
Bariatric Multivitamin examples:
- Bariatric Advantage
- Bariatric Fusion
- Vita4Life
- Celebrate Vitamins
- Opurity
- ProCare Health
- Bari-Life
Chewable Complete Multivitamin (over the counter) examples:
- Centrum Chewable
- Flintstones Complete Chewable
- Target Brand Kid’s Complete Multivitamin Chewable
- Equate Children’s Chewable Complete
RECOMMENDED PACKS
We’ve partnered with top of line bariatric supplement companies to identify the highest quality bariatric vitamins and supplements to ensure patient success. We’ve selected options for patients to choose from to make it easy, affordable and set a standard vitamin / supplement regimen. For more information, click here.