Introduction

Losing substantial weight is the goal of gastric surgery, but this loss should result in enhanced health rather than a decrease in health. To promote health while quickly losing weight, incorporate gastric bypass vitamins as a regular part of your daily life. The basic regimen of vitamins will be the same for most bariatric patients. Still, each individual patient should follow the gastric bypass vitamins list prescribed by his or her medical team.

The importance of your vitamins after gastric bypass should not be overlooked. It’s imperative that you take them and that you return regularly for blood work to make sure that you’re taking the right ones at the right levels. The consequences of not taking vitamins after gastric bypass are too dire to be ignored.

The vitamins for gastric bypass are necessary to ensure that your lessened intake of food and altered anatomy don’t result in a vitamin deficiency, to help you avoid issues that you’re more prone to experience after the procedure, or to treat an existing deficiency that’s occurred due to nutritional limitations or health concerns. As part of your pre-op education, you should have a clear understanding of the answer to the question: “What vitamins do I need after gastric bypass?”

Multivitamins

The primary item on the list of vitamins for gastric bypass patients is the multivitamin. Your food intake is greatly restricted following the procedure, making it practically impossible to consume all of the necessary vitamins for health from food sources. Immediately after surgery, you should take two tablets per day. Once you return to eating regular food, you will still have difficulty meeting nutritional needs without supplementation, and you should keep taking a multivitamin daily.

The best vitamins after gastric bypass will include 100% of the Daily Value (DV) of as many nutrients as possible. Become a label reader. You will discover that regular drugstore multivitamins might not be enough. Greater levels of nutrients make many bariatric labeled products the best vitamins for gastric bypass patients. Keep in mind that some doctors will recommend that you take additional vitamins and supplements depending on your blood results every 6 months.

Calcium

The best bariatric vitamins for gastric bypass must include calcium. The loss of bone strength and density is a real issue for patients who’ve had bariatric procedures. To prevent fractures, osteoporosis, and other challenges, gastric bypass patients should take between 1500 and 1800 mg of calcium citrate daily. You should divide this dose into multiple instances and space them at least two hours apart from the multivitamin to increase absorption. You want to avoid multivitamins that contain iron and calcium in the same formula because it will cause issues with iron absorption and potential health problems down the road.

Vitamin D

The regimen of vitamins needed after gastric bypass surgery includes Vitamin D. Not only is it vital for absorbing calcium, it also prohibits the development of breast, prostate, and colon cancers and dementia.

Gastric bypass patients are vulnerable to Vitamin D deficiency, which can lead to long-term bone pain, infection, depression, and other health problems. Milk and plenty of sunshine may not provide enough of this nutrient for bariatric patients.

Vitamin B12

The absorption level of some vitamins after gastric bypass surgery may be different. Vitamin B12 is one of these vitamins. Stomach acid works to separate B12 from food and helps with absorption. Patients who’ve had a gastric bypass procedure may require B12 taken as a sublingual tablet, nasal spray, or injection. Without appropriate levels of B12, patients may experience issues with memory, energy levels, and immune suppression.

Iron

Anemia is another health problem caused by an iron deficiency following the procedure, so the best vitamins for gastric bypass patients may also include supplemental iron. Prior to surgery, the duodenum was the point of absorption for iron, so after the surgery, iron supplements are a proactive measure to prevent anemia or to treat it. Too much iron can be dangerous and cause uncomfortable side effects, so be sure to check in with your medical provider as scheduled.

Probiotics

The vitamins for gastric patients list, as well as the procedure itself, may cause digestive problems like diarrhea and constipation. Probiotics show promise in promoting GI health and weight loss. Since gastrointestinal discomfort can be a side-effect of the surgery, you should consider adding probiotics to your list of post-gastric bypass vitamins.

Thiamine

Thiamine may be a part of your list of gastric bypass vitamins and supplements. Thiamine deficiency, while uncommon, can have deadly side effects, so you should be conscientious about going in for regular lab work and discuss with your doctor the potential consequences and how to identify a deficiency since symptoms often mimic other side effects of the procedure.

Protein Supplements

Supplementing your diet with protein drinks and powders in addition to gastric bypass surgery vitamins may play a significant role in preserving health even when intake is severely limited. Your new way of eating will focus on protein consumption, but until you can return to eating regular food, fulfilling your daily protein requirements will be impossible without supplementation.

The vitamins that follow your gastric bypass surgery should be chosen based on your body’s needs and your doctor’s instructions. Pose the following question before your surgery to be well-prepared: “What vitamins and minerals do I need after a gastric bypass?”

Once you know what vitamins to take after gastric bypass surgery, your diligence in taking them shouldn’t fade. Failing to take your vitamins post gastric bypass can and will end up in significant health problems rather than the return to health the procedure should facilitate.

Your efforts to lose weight and gain confidence and success can be greatly helped with a gastric bypass procedure. Before making this choice, though, be sure to understand the commitment demanded. Your approach to food, exercise, and daily life will be affected. One significant, vital, and too often forgotten element is the need to take daily vitamins and have lab work done regularly. Protect your health even when you’re eating less and losing weight by taking the right vitamins for you.

Also Read: Best Surgical Procedure for Weight Loss: Complete Guide