713-442-0427Post-Bariatric Surgery Nutrition: Vitamins
- After surgery, DO NOT start any vitamins until after your one-week post-op visit with your surgeon.
- You may receive samples of a chewable multivitamin prior to surgery.
- You'll need to take a chewable bariatric-specific multivitamin with iron for the rest of your life.
- Your bariatric team can help you choose the best vitamin for you and will take blood work to determine if you need to take additional vitamins or supplements.
| Sleeve/Gastric Bypass/Lap Band | Vitamin/Mineral | Duodenal Switch* |
|---|---|---|
| At least 12mg/day, preferably 50-100mg/day | Vitamin B1 | At least 12 mg/day, preferably 50-100mg/day |
| 500-1000 mcg/day | Vitamin B12 | 500-1000 mcg/day |
| 400-800 mcg/day (800-1000 mg childbearing aged women) |
Folate | 400-800 mcg/day (800-1000 mg childbearing aged women) |
| 1200-1500 mg/day, from both diet and supplements | Calcium | 1200-1500 mg/day, from both diet and supplements |
| 5,000-10,000 IU/day or 3,000 mcg/day | Vitamin A | 10,000 IU/day or 6,000 mcg/day |
| 3,000-5,000 IU/day or 75-125 mcg/day | Vitamin D | 3,000-5,000 IU/day or 75-125 mcg/day |
| 15 mg/day or 22 IU d-alpha tocopheral succinate/day | Vitamin E | 15 mg/day or 22 IU d-alpha tocopheral succinate/day |
| 90-120 mcg/day | Vitamin K | 300 mcg/day |
| 45-60 mcg/day (additional may be needed for menstruating women) |
Iron | 45-60 mcg/day (additional may be needed for menstruating women) |
| 8-11 mg/day (Sleeve, Lap Band) 8-22 mg/day (Gastric Bypass) |
Zinc | 16-22 mg/day |
| 1 mg/day (Sleeve, Lap Band) 2 mg/day (Gastric Bypass) |
Copper | 2 mg/day |
*Duodenal Switch patients may need higher levels of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K to maintain normal lab values, due to the nature of fat malabsorption caused by the procedure
Some notes about calcium:
- Calcium nitrate is the preferred form – look for this when purchasing a generic calcium brand.
- Calcium and iron compete for absorption: allow at least two hours between your calcium and iron-containing supplement for best absorption.
- The body only absorbs 500 mg – 600 mg calcium at a time; take your calcium doses throughout the day for maximum absorption.
Recommended Multivitamins for Sleeve/Gastric Bypass/Lap Band
Select one of the following:
- Bariatric Advantage Chewable Multi EA (two/day) + three calcium chews
- Celebrate Multi-Complete 45 Chewable (two/day) + three calcium chews
- Opurity Bariatric Multi Chewable with Iron (one/day) + three calcium chews
- Bariatric Advantage Ultra Solo with Iron Capsule (one/day) + three calcium chews
- Celebrate One-45 Capsule (one/day) + three calcium chews
- Opurity Bariatric Multi Capsule with Iron (two/day) + three calcium chews
Recommended Multivitamins for Loop Duodenal Switch
Select one of the following:
- Bariatric Advantage Chewable High ADEK Multi (two/day) + three calcium chews
- Celebrate Chewable Multi ADEK (three/day) + four calcium chews + 45 mg iron
- Bariatric Advantage High ADEK Multivitamin Capsule (two/day) + four calcium chews
- Celebrate ADEK Capsule (four/day) + four calcium chews + 45 mg iron
Tips
- Your bariatric multivitamins should have been purchased prior to surgery, and you should have already begun taking them pre-surgery.
- Bariatric multivitamins that meet ASMBS guidelines are not found in stores and must be purchased online. Before you buy, price compare – they are often cheaper on the vitamin company's website than through a third party such as Amazon.
- If you have nausea or trouble tolerating vitamins, try taking them with food or after eating. Slow-release iron may be tolerated better.
- Use a phone timer or the Baritastic app to help you remember to take your vitamins.
- Participate in companies' auto-ship option so you always have vitamins stocked.