multivitamin quiz answers
If you take a multivitamin with 100% of the RDA of most vitamins and minerals in it, how much should you take a day?
Everybody got this one – two a day in order to get the 200% of the RDA of stuff the ASMBS says we need.
Can you take your calcium supplement at the same time as your multivitamin? Explain why or why not.
And I think everyone got this one, too. You can take your calcium with your multi if your multi has no iron OR if you don’t care about absorbing the iron in your multi.
What important nutrients are missing from Flintstones?
Several people said “A lot" which is correct. Some of the vitamin A is a type we can’t absorb (beta carotene), so while A is not missing altogether, there’s not enough of it. There is no selenium, no potassium, no vitamin K… maybe some other minerals. I’m too lazy to look it up right now. The point is, a lot is missing, and everyone that responded to the quiz knows it.
Why should we not take gummy multivitamins?
Several people mentioned the sugar and a couple said we might have trouble dissolving and absorbing the gummies. That’s possible, but I’ve never seen anything official on it. No studies or anything that I’ve seen. The biggest problem with them is that they are missing a bunch of important stuff. Someone said they are on a par with Flintstones but that’s really not true. Inadequate as Flintstones are, they are much, much better than gummy vitamins. Different brands of gummies differ a little, but they are all missing a whole bunch of minerals and usually some B vitamins and vitamin K. Just eat a gummy bear instead and take a real vitamin!
Do we need a chewable multi? When (if ever) can we start taking a multi that we swallow?
I think everyone had this right, too. We don’t need chewables but many people want them (and many docs recommend them) in the beginning. The ASMBS says it’s Ok to swallow pills whenever we can tolerate it.
Do we need a “bariatric" multivitamin? Explain why or why not.
I think everyone had this right, too. We need a multi with 100% of the RDA of stuff on it. If it has 100% and says “bariatric" on the label, that’s fine. If it does not have 100% and says “bariatric" on the label do not take it. And if it does have 100% and does not say “bariatric" on the label, it’s fine.
What you want to look for is 100%, not the word “bariatric." And there are a few vitamins out there that are marketed to bariatric patients that are no better than Flintstones. In fact, I can think of at least one to which I’d have to say I think Flintstones would be a better choice.
Kelly
Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor. Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me. If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her. Check out my blog.
I did learn something about vitamins from you recently. You were making a post about inadequate bariatric vitamins and the things that it was deficient in were the vitamins I get toxic on (renal stuff) so next time I order vitamins I get to order those cheaper deficient ones.
You saved me a boat load of money. Thanks!
I'll try to make sure you don't miss the next quiz. What should it be about?
Kelly
Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor. Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me. If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her. Check out my blog.
