• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content

JourneyLite Physicians-Weight Loss Experts!

Your team for all your weight loss needs! Gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, gastric balloon, appetite suppressants and more!

  • Home
    • Calendar
    • JourneyLite Physicians & JourneyLite Surgery Center
    • Login/Create Account
    • Maps and Contacts
    • Our Team
    • Patient Testimonials
    • Physician Resources
    • Post-op Resources
    • Refer a Patient
  • Surgical Options
    • Gastric Sleeve (VSG)
    • Lap Band
    • Gastric Bypass
    • SIPS Procedure (Loop Duodenal Switch/SADI)
    • Pricing & Financing
  • Incisionless Options
    • Orbera Gastric Balloon
    • Spatz Adjustable Gastric Balloon
    • Endoscopic Sleeve (ESG)
    • Aspire Assist
    • Pricing & Financing
  • Revisional Procedures
    • Gastric Band Revision
    • Gastric Sleeve Revision
    • Gastric Bypass Revision
  • Appetite Suppression
    • Adipex, Contrave & Qsymia
    • Wegovy-A New Injectable Weight Loss Drug
    • Plenity-A New, Non-Stimulant Weight Loss Treatment
    • Combination Therapy
    • Pricing
  • Procedure Education
    • Surgical Pre-op Navigator
    • Pre-surgical Nutrition Videos
    • Pre & Post-Surgical Instructions
    • Surgical Post-Op Diet Phases
    • Surgical Post-op Navigator
    • Gastric Balloon Pre & Post Procedure Instructions
    • Gastric Balloon Removal Instructions
  • eStore
  •  

Vitamin supplements after bariatric surgery

by DrCurry 1 Comment

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 Supplementation for RNY, Sleeve Gastrectomy, ESG, SIPS, Band

Vitamins & minerals start one month after surgery. The exception is sublingual vitamin B12 which starts one week after surgery.  Your dietitian will discuss with you which vitamins & minerals you will need to take.    

 The following are required to be taken after your surgery:

  • 1 week post surgery:
    • At 1 week out you will begin taking Sublingual B-12 (1,000 mcg) daily until your 1 month visit. 
  • 1 month post surgery
    • Begin chewable multivitamin
    • Iron (26mg/d),
    • Vitamin D3 (15,000 IU/weekly)
    • Calcium Citrate (1000 mg/d, ONLY take 500 mg at one time to increase absorption)
    • Decrease sublingual B12 to 1,000 mcg/week.

JourneyLite Physicians highly recommends Bariatric Advantage vitamins.  They are high-quality, pharmaceutical-grade products that are designed specifically for surgical weight loss patients! 

Vitamins are not tolerated on an empty stomach. Always take your vitamins later in the day. Best time to take your multivitamin is after lunch or dinner.

After 3 months you may begin taking capsule supplements based on your tolerance.

B-12 must remain sublingual or injectable long-term.  Oral tablets will not be absorbed.

Vitamin Tips and Information: 

The form of iron that you need to take is either Ferrous Fumarate or Ferrous Gluconate.  Ferrous Sulfate is the most commonly prescribed form of iron but it not well absorbed after your surgery.  It is also recommended that you avoid taking iron supplements at the same time as consuming coffee, tea, or antacids.   

If you are ever required to take Vitamin D, you want to make sure it’s Vitamin D3. 

The form of calcium you should choose is calcium citrate. This is due to the lack of stomach acid being produced by your new pouch.  Calcium carbonate is the most common form found, but it is not absorbed well because it does require a larger amount of stomach acid to be absorbed. 

 Calcium and iron need to be spaced 2 hours apart.  They actually compete for the same absorption sites and can interfere with each other’s absorption. 

 Products to Avoid: 

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

DrCurry (259)

Filed Under: Education, Post op, Vitamins/Minerals/Micronutrients

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. TIMOTHY REED says

    at

    Very helpful in what suppliments that I need.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Copyright © 2022 · Trace Curry MD · Log in

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.AcceptPrivacy Policy