protein absorption and regenerating intestines in Texas

I was at a rather chaotic post support meeting headed by the bariatric dietitian. The topic was vitamins we need for life etc. I heard her remind one of the group "remember, we can only absorb 30 g. of protein at a time". I need to know what she meant by "at a time". I would have had to shout the question in this mob I was in so I will call in the question tomorrow but thought some of you vets might know. If I drink a shake with 45 g of protein did I waste 15 of it? I like the smoothie king vanilla whey isolate and it says 8 ozs liquid with 2 scoops which contain 45 g protein.

Also I overheard this man in the group say that the reason we lose the malabsorption from 1 year to 18 months out is because the small intestine they cut out (100 cm) GROWS BACK!!!! Now that just cannot be right. And if we lose the malabsorption why continue to take vitamins? He looked pretty sharp but I need a second opinion on his opinion.

Ok so you don't really GROW back the intestines, the villa inside the small intestines grow extra villa to accommodate for the loss of macronutrients. We have to keep taking vitamins because vitamins are only absorbed in certain parts of the intestines mostly in the first 100 cms. Here is a picture showing what is absorbed where http://www.clinicaloptions.com/~/media/InPractice/Oncology/Ch%2049%20Supportive%20Care%20Nutrition/SuppCare_Nutrition_figure.ashx

it isn't as exact as I would like but you can get the picture. So if the surgeon cuts about where the duodenum and the jejunum meet then connects the jejunum to the pouch and the duodenum which is connected to the remnant stomach later down the intestines you're missing everything the duodenum specifically absorbs because the duodenum and the remnant stomach will never see food again.
The surgeon doesn't actually remove any intestines s/he just moves them around and bypasses a part of it.

As for protein I've heard that you can only absorb a certain amount in a given period of time but I'm not really sure about it and how much each person can absorb is probably individual.

Well maybe that is what he meant by regrowing but he sure didn't state it clearly.

I went to my surgeon's orientation and thought he said he removed 100 cm in people with up to 50 BMI and a little more as the BMI increased. We are going to his next orientation Oct. 10 to be sure we got it all straight the first time so I will double check. He also said the RNY was reversible which I did not know. I guess you can resurrect the unused stomach and intestines in extreme situations. Modern medicine continues to amaze me. He said RNY had been here since the 70's so a good history to look back on.

Need to find out about that protein absorption thing. No need to waste good protein powder

You are aware the your surgeon didn't "REMOVE" any intestine right? You still have all your intestine it is just rerouted.

The RNY technically IS reversible, but it is a very complex surgery (more complex and difficult than the original surgery) and carries much higher complication rates and risks, so surgeons will not do it unless there is a serious medical issue which makes reversal absolutely necessary.  (Also, because of the complexity and the rarity of reversals, most surgeons are not qualified to do it.) 

Lora

I am checking on reversing a RNY also. This surgeon is the groups high risk surgeon. He saved my dad's life with a horribly infected gall bladder some years ago. Lap surgery is his specialty. We had to wait two days to get on his schedule and he said one more day and it probably would have been "game over". Dad was in twenty three days and this doc was in morning and night thus my respect for the man. Now he is focusing on WLS. A killer disease. I am not high risk at all - just a little high blood pressure and trying to avoid type II diabetes that on my mother's side but he took me because he knew us from that past near death experience. Took me two and a half months to get my appt. with him. Anyway there are surgeons and there are surgeons. I will keep you guys posted on both the thirty gram absorption and the reversal.

Since 2008,  I've heard that our body absorbs anywhere from 26 to 30 gms from a meal or snack.  Going on this information, I look for protein powders that  furnish around this amount in one scoop and don't double scoop  figuring it doesn't do any good.

there is debate on the protein absorption thing.  MOST studies that i have read say that it takes about 1 hour for your body to absorb 10 grams of protein.  however, it only takes about 1.5 hours for your body to pass whatever you have consumed through your tract.
 
so if you combine those two logistically, you can only absorb about 15 grams of protein per 1 "sitting".  then again, if it takes you an hour to drink a protein smoothie, not all of that is going in at one "sitting" TIME wise - so u gotta figure that in too.

my advice has ALWAYS been to treat protein like calcium.  i take my calcium evenly throughout the day because i know my body USES it throughout the day.  i treat my protein/fat/calories/liquids/etc the same way.  i try to get my totals in EVENLY throughout the day.   that way, i dont really have to worry about whose "theory" on protein absorption is correct or even if ANY of the theories are correct.

(and no, ur intestines dont grow back - its like the first responder said, the little villa grow longer to try to absorb more.)

I only drink 15-20 grams of protein at a time because I was also told that we can only use 30 grams of digested protein at a time. As for growing intestines back that cant happen as far as I know and I was told that my body will never have the same absorption rate as it did so I will take supplements forever. I too am still learning....

Wow! I didn't know that! See you learn something new everyday. I knew about the villi growing back, but not that you only absorb 30 g of protien at each meal. Very interesting.