Vitamins

Hi!   I am pre-op and buying the vitamins recommended by the Duke program.   They suggested chewable multi vitamins.   Is it safe to assume the liquid or powder vitamins are ok?   The powder
I found has the recommended  amounts of iron, folate and zinc.   Also, has anyone used the powder multi vitamin...does it have a bad taste?  Thanks for any info you can give me!

Judy

I have only done the chewable but they sound okay. I do know that Target now has adult gummy vitamins. I haven't checked them out but I love gummy vitamins!

The gummy vitamins are a very poor choice.  I don't even give them to my kids.

+ For purposes of this post, I am using the RDA's for Males 31-50 and non-lactating non-pregnant Females 31-50.
+ Conversions from IU to mcg are based on an average of values set forth by the RDA.  It is not an exact science as various forms of each vitamin will translate from IU to mcg differently.  If you really want this specific info, lemme know.
+ This test will evaluate a single dose adult dose per the label (2 vitamins, 6, etc.) for the following vitamins - VitaFusion Adult Gummies (dose = 2 vites), L'il Critters Gummy Bear Vites (dose = 2 vites), Flintstones Gummy Vitamins (dose = 2 vites)
+ RDAs do not take in account lack of Intrinsic Factor or malabsorption -- *we* need more of these things, but until they form a Bariatric RDA, then we have to go with what the government is giving us
+ Values flagged in red do not meet the RDA for either subgroup

Vitamin A
RDA M 900 mcg/day, F 700 mcg/day
VitaFusion 400 mcg
L'il Critters 400 mcg
Flintstones Gummies 320mcg

Vitamin C
RDA M 90 mg/day, F 75 mg/day
VitaFusion 30 mg
L'il Critters 20 mg
Flintstones Gummies 30 mg

Vitamin D
RDA M 5 mcg/day, F 5 mcg/day
VitaFusion 5 mcg
L'il Critters 5mcg
Flintstones Gummies 2.5mcg

Vitamin E
RDA M 15 mg/day, F 15 mg/day
VitaFusion 7.5 mg
L'il Critters 8mg
Flintstones Gummies 10mg

Vitamin K
RDA M 120 mcg/day, F 90 mcg/day
VitaFusion 0
L'il Critters 0
Flintstones Gummies 0

Thiamin
RDA M 1.2 mg/day, F 1.1 mg/day
VitaFusion 0
L'il Critters 0
Flintstones Gummies 0

Riboflavin
RDA M 1.3 mg/day, F 1.1 mg/day
VitaFusion 0
L'il Critters 0
Flintstones Gummies 0

Niacin
RDA M 16 mg/day, F 14 mg/day
VitaFusion 10 mg
L'il Critters 0
Flintstones Gummies 0

Vitamin B6
RDA M 1.3 mg/day, F 1.3 mg/day
VitaFusion 2mg
L'il Critters 1.04mg
Flintstones Gummies 1mg

Folate
RDA M 400 mcg/day, F 400 mcg/day
VitaFusion 400mcg
L'il Critters 260 mcg
Flintstones Gummies 200mcg

Vitamin B12
RDA M 2.4 mcg/day, F 2.4 mcg/day
VitaFusion 6mcg
L'il Critters 5.1mcg
Flintstones Gummies 5mcg

Pantothenic Acid
RDA M 5 mg/day, F 5mg/day
VitaFusion 10mg
L'il Critters 5.2mg
Flintstones Gummies 5mg

Biotin
RDA M 30 mcg/day, F 30 mcg/day
VitaFusion 0
L'il Critters 60mcg
Flintstones Gummies 75mcg

Choline
RDA M 550 mg/day, F 425 mg/day
VitaFusion 40mg
L'il Critters 40mcg (note, MCG, not MG)
Flintstones Gummies 38mg

Calcium
RDA M 1,000 mg/day, F 1000 mg/day
VitaFusion 0
L'il Critters 0
Flintstones Gummies 0

Chromium
RDA M 35 mcg/day, F 25 mcg/day
VitaFusion 0
L'il Critters 0
Flintstones Gummies 0

Copper
RDA M 900 mcg/day, F 900 mcg/day
VitaFusion 0
L'il Critters 0
Flintstones Gummies 0

Fluoride
RDA M 4 mg/day, F 3 mg/day
VitaFusion 0
L'il Critters 0
Flintstones Gummies 0

Iodine
RDA M 150 mcg/day, F 150 mcg/day
VitaFusion 0
L'il Critters 42mcg
Flintstones Gummies 40mcg

Iron
RDA M 8 mg/day, F 18 mg/day
VitaFusion 0
L'il Critters 0
Flintstones Gummies 0

Magnesium
RDA M 420 mg/day, F 320 mg/day
VitaFusion 0
L'il Critters 0
Flintstones Gummies 0

Manganese
RDA M 2.3 mg/d, F 1.8 mg/day
VitaFusion 0
L'il Critters 0
Flintstones Gummies 0

Molybdenum
RDA M 45 mcg/day, F 45 mcg/day
VitaFusion 0
L'il Critters 0
Flintstones Gummies 0

Phosphorous
RDA M 700 mg/day, F 700 mg/day
VitaFusion 0
L'il Critters 0
Flintstones Gummies 0

Selenium
RDA M 55 mcg/day, F 55 mcg/day
VitaFusion 0
L'il Critters 0
Flintstones Gummies 0

Zinc
RDA M 11 mg/day, F 8 mg/day
VitaFusion 0
L'il Critters 2.7mg
Flintstones Gummies 2.5mg

Potassium
RDA M 4.7 g/day, F 4.7 g/day
VitaFusion 0
L'il Critters 0
Flintstones Gummies 0

Sodium
RDA M 1.5 g/day, F 1.5 g/day
VitaFusion 0
L'il Critters 0
Flintstones Gummies 0

Chloride
RDA M 2.3 g/day, F 2.3 g/day
VitaFusion 0
L'il Critters 0
Flintstones Gummies 0

I bought liquid centrum I think and it was horrible, horrible tasting.  No idea about the powered.   I use Centrum chewables in orange flavor.  Not bad at all.   Good Luck!

I use the chewable "Optisource" vitamin that is made for bariatric patients.  It is available at WalGreens.   I also supplement with Calcium Citrate tablets. 

Hi Judy,
I'm also pre op from Duke and am buying vitamins this week. Where did you find the powder stuff?

Vini

Hi!  I found it online at the vitamin shoppe.   When are you having your surgery?   Mine is April 13th, the day after Easter.

Judy

My surgery is scheduled next week (yikes!) on St. Patrick's Day. "I'm a might nervous", but Kelly's post (aka Country_nurse) made me feel better. I hope we do as well as she did.
I'm going to check out the vitamine shop.
Thanks so much!
Vini

I'm assuming they recommend Bariatric Advantage.. which are ok (and better, in terms of vitamin quality) than many of the other Bariatric vitamins.

However, as soon as you get the OK from your surgeon, do yourself (and your wallet) a favor by switching to pills.  You don't need to be on chewables, liquids, or powders for your entire life.