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Post-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.

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