Bariatric Advantage VS OTC vits?

I know someone (maybe Stephanie?) did a comparison between the vits recently. Can't find it. Are the BA vits REALLY that much better? I just can't afford them...REALLY!  I am having my labs drawn tomorrow so will see how they look when I get them back . I know the vitamin issue has come up so much lately but it is sooo important.  Someone mentioned to me that the OTC vits need the stomach acids to be absorbed (that we don't have) and the BA do not. Just wondering....

July,
I JUST started on the BA ones.  I don't like chewables so Dr. Garth said BA's regular vitamin was just fine, buuut, you have to take SIX of them a day.  I GLADLY agreed to take six.  Cannot handle chewables.  BLECH!  Another thing he pushed was the Vitamin D.  One time a day is it.  His next meeting at his new office will be with the BA rep who will probably have samples.  Yes, a tad more money than OTC ones, but I know they are going to be absorbed correctly.  I signed up for the automatic shipment so every three months they send me a new bottle of like 540 capsules.  When you sign up for auto-ship, they waive the shipping.  Dr. Garth now carries product, too, so depending upon what a person wants, it can be purchased right there.  Jamie (his nurse) didn't have the swallow vits so I had to order those but did get the Vitamin D from them and now regularly taking it!

That is who I talked to. (Jamie) I would like to believe (and do) that Dr Garth would not refer to a particular vitamin if he was not absolutely convinced they are better than the others....BUT that said...I still can't afford them. So was hoping there really was a good comparitvie vit. How was your last blood work?~~~And is that why you changed?~~~

I don't have any problems taking swallow pills so I am okay there...your # 2 is where my biggest concern lies....it is easy for a company to make their vitamin sound like the "only" one that will work....

Here is my story of why I use BA vits ~ I bought SEVERAL vitamins and most of them my stomach just couldnt handle (made me sick, or bad taste in my mouth).  When I had my first set of labs done after surgery I had some low levels (my vit D is still low) so my nut told me to "try" BA and see if they went down any better.  So I did and ordered all my vits through them.  They worked great for ME (I know others that dont really care for them).  They have an auto-refill program that works great for ME too because I am bad about remembering to go get things.  I really didnt think about how much more $$$ they were just they worked for me.

Now after my yr labs my vit D levels were still low so I am on a extra dose of Vit D (no, these are not BA vits)

That is my story............Hugs B~

Thanks for the input! Have heard lately about D being a big one...I see my doc orders that too. I need to search out my previous records to see what was run before!~~~

I would say look at your labs.  If they are good, then your current OTC vitamins should be fine for you.  But if they aren't, give BA a try and see if that makes a difference in the labs.  I take BA.  Note that just because your labs fall into the normal range doesn't mean they are good.  Compare labs to see if levels are decreasing, and I've read alot about B12, and even though 200 is technically normal, you need to be alot higher than that to function properly.

Good luck

Well, what concerns me about that is what I have heard...that deficiencies kind of "sneak" up on you ...some levels by the time the tests comes out low you have already done damage. I really should have been paying better attention to my vits before now at 5 yrs out. But really for the first 3 years I was great at taking them...10 months out I got preg and then nursing....was easy to remember then...kind of slacked for about 1-1/2 years-not stopping completely just not paying as much attention ....

July, bariatric patient specific vitamins are not necessary.  I honestly believe you can do just as well with regular vitamins you guy anywhere else.  Just do some comparision and shopping around, I use the CVS Centrum Multi Vits and they VERY similiar to bariatric specific vitamins. 

It isn't always what you take (some it is what) but that you take them and as faithfully as you can.  Be sure to have your Vitamin D, ferritin, TBIC, PTH, done too.  These will tell you allot more than just the normal CBC.