Vitamin supplements after bariatric surgery

Vitamin supplements after bariatric surgery are an important post-op consideration.  It is critical that you follow our guidelines in terms of recommended vitamins as well as post-op labwork to reduce the risk of vitamin or micronutrient deficiencies!  We recommend only pharmaceutical-grade vitamins for our patients.  Check our eStore for all your vitamin needs!

DO NOT START ANY VITAMINS UNTIL DISCUSSING WITH OUR TEAM AT YOUR FIRST POST-OP VISIT!

Vitamin Regimen For Each Procedure

Gastric bypass/sleeve

• Multivitamin
• Iron (Ferrous fumarate – 26 milligrams/day)
• Calcium Citrate (1500-2000 mg/day)
• Sublingual B12 (1000 micrograms/week)
  • • • Sublingual means taken under the tongue, not swallowed!

Gastric band/plication

• Multivitamin with Iron
• Calcium Citrate(1000-1500 milligrams/day)

Duodenal switch/SIPS procedure

• Multivitamin
• Iron (Ferrous fumarate – 26 milligrams/day)
• Calcium Citrate (1500-2000 mg/day)
• Sublingual B12 (1000 micrograms/week)
  • Sublingual means taken under the tongue, not swallowed!
• Vitamin A 10000 IU/day
• Vitamin D 2000 IU/day
• Vitamin K 300 mcg/day
• B-50 Complex daily



Recommended chewables for all procedures

• Bariatric Advantage
• Celebrate Bariatric
• Optisource (available at Walgreens)

After 3 months you may begin taking capsules if you prefer such as:

• Nature’s Way (found at most health food stores and Whole Foods Market)
• Solaray Vitamin’s (found at most health food stores)
• GNC vitamin products (found at GNC locations or at www.gnc.com)
• Nature’s Life (found at most health food stores and Whole Foods Market)
• Prothera Vitamins (found at www.protherainc.com)

Products to avoid

• Centrum
• One-A-Day
• Flintstones
• Generic store brands
• “Gummy” type vitamins