Malabsorption question

This has always been a confusing issue for me. Being 2-1/2 years out, I feel I can eat/tolerate most anything, including some fried foods (however I choose not to eat them). I also assume that all calories eaten are absorbed. This "calories in vs. calories out" makes the most sense to me (and I learned that right here on this board). But if anything my surgeon and nutritionist said has stuck with me, it's that we must supplement the vitamins and minerals forever! Not just a few years. And we must make good choices, plain and simple. Betsy C.

Missy, This, From Diana Cox- (the numbers are from a report by Dr. Hess, A leading proponent of the DS surgical procedure. ) These numbers are for people over a year out with stable weight; In some cases, there is compensation long-term by growth Of the common channel, (for DS'ers) And increased intestinal villi that help with absorption, etc. (notice there is even some level of malabsorption even in Pre-surgery patients) This are the "Food in Poop Out" Numbers. You can get a fairly accurate picture of the Malabsorption rates from this Particularly in how it relates to Fat Calories. DSers eat (by the calculated numbers) -- Calories: 3214 -- Protein g: 127.3 -- Fat g: 168.6 RNYers eat (by the calculated numbers) -- Calories: 2198 -- Protein g: 91.0 -- Fat g: 116.1 Preop MOs eat (by the calculated numbers) -- Calories: 2709 -- Protein g: 114.2 -- Fat g: 126.0 DSer's poop: Fecal fat g: 136.7 Stool wt g: 756 % fecal fat: 17.4 RNYer's poop: Fecal fat g: 44 Stool wt g: 270 % fecal fat: 14.9 Pre-op MO's poop: Fecal fat g: 10.3 Stool wt g: 208 % fecal fat: 5.0 *************** SO, for DSers: Fat in: 168.6 Fat out: 136.7 Amount malabsorbed: 81% For Pre-op MOs: Fat in: 126.0 Fat out: 10.3 Amount malabsorbed: 8.2% -- As for RNYers: Fat in: 116.1 Fat out: 44 Amount malabsorbed: 38% Malabsorption of Calories and Nutrients Is For Life, even with the slight increase of Intestinal villi. Hope this helps- Best Wishes- Dx

Wow, what an eye-opener. Did I read this right, that people consume more calories post-DS than they did as pre-ops?? I hope there will be more studies on all this stuff, especially the malabsorption question. Arguing over what type of calcium to take is one thing -- having a malabsorption surgery that supposedly just "wears off" in a year or two (leaving only vitamin/mineral deficiencies behind) is quite another . . . Anyway, thanks for the information, Dx!

My surgeon says our bodies will adapt and we don't malabsorb calories long term but we always malabsorb vitamins/minerals. Especially iron and calcium. The portion of intestine that would absorb the most calcium in a normie is entirely bypassed with the RNY (the duodenum). Maybe the ability or inability to tolerate certain foods is more a function of the fact that we no longer have a pyloric valve. Digestion no longer starts in the stomach with the food being released gradually into the intestine. It just goes into the intestine the same way it went down our throats. Linda