What you should know about vitamins after bariatric surgery
All guidelines recommend that you must take (bariatric) vitamins every day, for the rest of your life. If you’re not committed to taking your vitamins, serious complications can occur.
3 Reasons why you need extra vitamins after bariatric surgery
1. Your portion size is decreased – you can’t eat all foods in the quantities to provide you with all the nutrients you need.
2. You may not tolerate all foods well – meaning that there may be certain food groups missing in your post-op diet.
3. Your digestive system is altered and so are your digestive enzymes – not all foods will be absorbed the same way they did before surgery. Malabsorption can especially be an issue after a gastric bypass or a duodenal switch.
How do I know which vitamins I have to take?
Your surgeon can tell you exactly what your needs are in regards to vitamins and minerals after bariatric surgery. According to the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) a vitamin should contain specific amounts. Again, these amounts may differ from your personal recommendation. We’ve listed the general requirements in the table below.
9 Interesting facts about vitamins after bariatric surgery
- Calcium citrate is better absorbed than calcium carbonate
- Calcium supplements are usually divided into 3 dosages of 500 mg (taken at breakfast, lunch and dinner)
- Vitamin C can help with iron absorption
- Calcium inhibits iron absorption and it’s not recommended to take calcium and iron within 2 hours of each other
- Vitamin B12 can be taken orally, sublingually (under your tongue) and through intramuscular shots
- Oral vitamin B12 supplements are available in chewable form and dissolvable form
- Most over the counter vitamins are not suitable after bariatric surgery
- You need to take vitamins every day, for the rest of your life
- Women of child-bearing age need higher dosages of iron
9 Interesting facts about vitamins after bariatric surgery
- Calcium citrate is better absorbed than calcium carbonate
- Calcium supplements are usually divided into 3 dosages of 500 mg (taken at breakfast, lunch and dinner)
- Vitamin C can help with iron absorption
- Calcium inhibits iron absorption and it’s not recommended to take calcium and iron within 2 hours of each other
- Vitamin B12 can be taken orally and through intramuscular shots
- Oral vitamin B12 supplements are available in chewable form and dissolvable form
- Most over the counter vitamins are not suitable after bariatric surgery
- You need to take vitamins every day, for the rest of your life
- Women of child-bearing age need higher dosages of iron
General daily micronutrient requirements after bariatric surgery
| Vitamin B1 | at least 12 mg | |
| Vitamin B9 (folate) |
400-800 mcg 800-1000 mcg for women of childbearing age |
|
| Vitamin B12 | 350-1000 mcg | |
| Vitamin A |
RNY bypass/VSG Duodenal Switch |
5000-10000 IU 10.000 IU |
| Vitamin D | at least 3000 IU | |
| Calcium (citrate) |
RNY bypass/VSG Duodenal Switch |
1200-1500 mg 1800-2400 mg |
| Vitamin E | 15 mg | |
| Vitamin K |
RNY bypass/VSG Duodenal Switch |
90-120 mcg 300 mcg |
| Iron | 18-60 mg (dependable on age, menstruation status, procedure type, history of low iron) | |
| Zinc |
VSG RNY bypass Duodenal Switch |
8-11 mg 8-22 mg 16-22 mg |
| Copper | RNY bypass/Duodenal Switch |
1 mg 2 mg |
Mg = Milligram
Mcg = Microgram
IU = International Unit (used to indicate the mass of vitamins, hormones and other masses used in the medical field)
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