Vitamin Brands

I am six months post op RNY and I have a question about daily vitamins. My NUT told me before surgery that I needed to take vitamins specifically designed for bariatric patients. After reading forums, I hear that many take centrum or generic vitamins that are MUCH cheaper.

What vitamins does everyone take, and do I NEED to take bariatric vitamins?

You can take Centrum or something similar. I still take bariatric vitamins because I like them.

I was told to continue with the bariatric vitamins. It was explained to me that many of the over the counter vitamins do not contain the amounts of what we need. The surgeon told me we are at risk of mineral deficiency, and that some minerals once lost, are gone forever. From what I have found, the cost is negligible in terms of over the counter vs. ordering them from Amazon. So for me, I am just going to continue with what the doctor recommended. As a caveat, I am sure others have found otc ones that work for them.

Im pretty sure i will always stay with my bariatric vitamins! I Love them!

You can absolutely get generic vitamins that have what we need in them. Take the guidelines with you to the store and read the labels. Not all vitamins are created equal, just make sure you read the labels.

One of the most important skills everyone should learn is reading nutrition labels, both for food, and vitamins and supplements. Compare labels. See what some brands have, and what others don't.

Some bariatric vitamins are great. Bariatric Advantage and Celebrate are good examples. But they are expensive. There are locally available name brand options, such as Centrum, that are less expensive, and just as good. There are generic versions of Centrum at places like CVS, BJs, etc, that are even cheaper, but just as good.

There are also some brands that stink. Children's vitamins, such as Flintstones, and all gummies, are missing a great many necessary things. Having "Complete" on the label means NOTHING. Having "Bariatric" on the label means nothing either. One brand, Bariatric Fusion, is terrible. You would need to take EIGHT of them every day to get what you need. And that would be very, very expensive.

Don't read the front of the label. But do learn to read and interpret the stuff on the back of the label. It's an invaluable skill.

Thank you for your reply. I agree with you completely about reading the labels and informing ones self about what you are taking. I was hoping that through the vast knowledge on this site that someone has already done the work and has useful information. I will definately check out the Centrum brand as well as other generic vitamins. They must be so much less expensive than the Bariatic Advantage that I am currently taking!

I've been using a generic of Centrum from CVS. Look for BOGO sales. I got two 360 tablet containers -- at two per day, that's a year's supply -- for 12 or 13 bucks.

This is what my plan has said about vitamins:

Recommended vitamin supplements:

Nature's Way (found at most health food store and whole food Markets)

Solaray Vitamin's (found at most health food stores)

GNC vitamin products (found at GNC locations or at www.gnc.com)

Nature's Lie (found at most health food Stores and whole foods Markets)

Prothera Vitamin (found at www. Protherainc.com)

The form of Iron that you nee to take s ether ferrous fumarate or ferrous gluconate.  Also avoid taking iron supplements at the same time as consuming coffee tea and antacids.

The form of calcium you want to take is calcium citrate

Calcium and Iron need to be spaced 2 hours between each other.

Products to avoid:

Centrum

one a day

flintstones

generic store brands

gummy type vitamins

Ferrous fumarate, ferrous gluconate, or anything with ferrous in the name, are the WORST kinds of iron to take. In a 325 mg tablet, only 65 mg of those is elemental iron. They'll constipate you horribly. You might as well pound a cork in there.

Carbonyl iron or heme iron are 100 percent elemental iron, and are not constipating.