Saw a "Vitamins / Low Energy" thread from Reggie,
and thought I’d re-post something I posted a while back on My Other Board.
Sorry to just copy/paste from an old post, but it saves a lot of typing….J
F is for Fatigue!
On the Nutrition side………………….
Although Low "Protein, Iron, and B-12 Levels"
Are the most common culprits for Easily Fatigued By-Passers,
Several other Nutrition components
Are also directly related to Energy Production in the cells.
American Society for Bariatric Surgery (ASBS) didn’t come out
With the substantiated studies showing –
"The need for B-1 Supplementation in Bariatric Patients"
Until 3 ½ years ago, long after many patients were already having issues.
Some Bariatric Clinics Today still haven’t put B-1 on the list of supplements
Recommended for their patients.
In that this whole WLS business is still in its infancy as medical procedures go,
I’m always suspicious of how much of this "Medical Practice" is "Medicine"
And how much is "Practice," using us a lab-rats as they improve
The complete understanding of Bariatric Procedures.
So, I typically look for those things that "Won’t hurt to try" and supplement
Most all of the Vitamins that are just "un-used or eliminated in waste" if "too much" is taken.
For example, the B-Vitamins.
Too much, causes no harm.
Too little? A host of problems.
The typical "Super-Energy" regime,
(Touted by Vitamin Companies and Nutritionists alike)
Are-
The "Basic B's" - B1, B2, B3, B5, B6;
As well as Biotin; B12; Folate or Folic acid and Magnesium.
Folate is one of the recently studied Nutrients that the ASBS has found –
"… low levels of folate have been linked with
Low energy levels, depression and even memory loss."
Beyond the critical Vitamins,
There are life-critical cellular vitamin-like nutrients,
Even though they are not, strictly speaking, vitamins.
..(A vitamin is generally considered to be an organic substance
..that an organism requires for its normal health and metabolism,
..in relatively small amounts, and which it cannot make itself,
..but must get preformed from diet [or supplements].
..Even though three classic vitamins - A, D, B3 –
..Can be made within the human body, but are still considered "vitamins.")
4 Key cellular-nutrients that are integral to Energy production are-
*NADH (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide)
*carnitine / acetyl-l-carnitine, (in combination)
*coenzyme Q10,
And-
*alpha-lipoic acid.
All four of these, Carnitine, Lipoic acid, NADH and CoQ10
Are all normal dietary constituents, and are absolutely essential for life,
Yet, somewhat arbitrarily, are not considered vitamins,
Since they can be made within the body.
NADH is one of the most important Coenzymes in the human brain and body.
(A coenzyme is the active, or working form of a vitamin.)
NADH is the coenzyme form of vitamin B3,
Acetyl-L-Carnitine / Carnitine are the two halves of a B vitamin-like substance
The body makes from the amino acids- Lysine and Methionine,
In combination with vitamins B3, B6 and C.
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) which has a lot of "buzz" around it now-a-days
As the Meta-Vitamin, particularly in regards to improving Cardiac issues,
Is an absolutely energy-critical cellular nutrient.
CoQ10 is found in food such as salmon, liver and other organ meats.
(Carnitine is generally found in the same animal foods that are ri*****oQ10.)
Even for Non-Bypass Folks, It is nearly impossible to get enough CoQ10 from diet alone,
Especially in our later years.
Studies show that the age-related decline in CoQ10
Is a contributing factor to- Cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer's disease.
Since CoQ10 is involved in the production of ATP, (Cellular Fuel)
It makes sense that a decline in the production of this antioxidant
Would interrupt the body's energy-producing system.
In fact, heart muscle biopsies in patients with various heart diseases
Showed a CoQ10 deficiency in 50 to 75 percent of all cases.
Idebenone is a synthetic derivative of CoQ10.
Various studies have shown that Idebenone may function even better as an antioxidant
And agent of cellular energy production CoQ10.
Alpha Lipoic Acid is a fatty acid that would have been classified
As a Vitamin except for the fact that it can be synthesized within the human body.
There is a long list of benefits of Alpha Lipoic Acid,
Some have even gone as far to call it the "Ideal antioxidant."
Although, it is the one "Meta-Nutrient" that you can take Too Much of.
The recommended daily dose is between 50mg to 100mg,
But higher doses can cause nausea and indigestion,
And excessive doses can even lead to low blood sugar.
On the plus side,
According to "bodybuildingforyou.com"---
"Taking alpha lipoic acid can sometimes lead to a mild and relaxing feeling,
and lead to a better feel of well-being."
My Sister is the "Nutrition-Nut" in my family and encourages me to take all of
These "Meta-Nutrients." Of my 3 siblings and 14 Cousins,
She’s the only one who has avoided being Obese since her late 20’s
When she became a Nutrition Fanatic!
A "No Canned / Processed food Ever!!"-kind of Gal.
Must be working, she looks half her age……
For a list of Vitamins, Minerals and Deficiencies
(from a website on Eating Disorders
Dealing with people who have interrupted or cutout some foods from their diets…)
http://www.something-fishy.org/dangers/vitamins.php
It gives a list of Nutrients, Where they are found in foods
And what the symptoms of too little or too much are.
From that same website-
A listing of more common "Blood Work and Lab Tests"
That reveal Nutrient deficiencies.
http://www.something-fishy.org/doctors/bloodtests.php
Last, but not least,
The description of Fatigue symptoms seen in some WLS Post-ops
Is the same as those of Fibromayalgia Syndrome. (FMS)
(closely similar and often linked with "Chronic Fatigue Syndrome." [CFS])
Many experts think that Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)
Are variants of the same problem. Pain is a hallmark of fibromyalgia
And fatigue is a hallmark of CFS.
Although 75% of all people diagnosed with FMS are women,
The WLS community as a whole has a remarkably higher incidence of both
FMS & CFS. This for the most part due to over 70% of all FMS & CFS
Diagnosed in patients who are or were Obese to Morbidly Obese.
Typically FMS and/or CFS show up after a stress or trauma to the system
Such as "Multiple Surgeries in a short amount of time." Could be?
A widespread semi-misunderstanding, both outside and within the medical community,
Is that there are no blood tests, or other medical tests
That can be performed to further affirm the presence of Fibromyalgia.
While this information may have been correct during the last 15 years,
It is no longer correct.
Testing for cytokine levels, p-cells, and MRI brain activity scans (as well as other medical tests) Have all been successfully used to help determine the presence of Fibromyalgia.
Just some thoughts……………………
I had been gathering Fatigue info from my Sister and the Web for some time
And thought I’d Share.
Hope you're all feeling fit and Full of Life! 
Best Wishes-
Dx 
