Vitamin & Mineral Needs Of Bariatric Surgery Patients

Vitamin & Mineral Needs Of Bariatric Surgery Patients

Gastric bypass and other types of bariatric surgery dramatically alter your body's ability to absorb vitamins, minerals and nutrients from the smaller amounts of food you'll be eating. The resulting vitamin and mineral deficiencies can have serious medical implications.

Vitamins and minerals contribute to your post bariatric surgery health in a number of ways, including the regulation of the metabolism and helping with the release of energy from the food you digest. In comparison to nutrients like protein, carbohydrates and fat, vitamins and minerals are needed in much smaller amounts by your body. Vitamins are classified as either water-soluble or fat-soluble. Water-soluble vitamins cannot be stored in the body and must be taken every day. Water-soluble vitamins include the B vitamins and Vitamin C. On the other hand, fat-soluble vitamins are stored in the body's fat and include vitamins A, D, E and K. Minerals are needed by your body for the proper composition of body fluids, maintaining healthy bones and teeth, formulation of healthy blood, regulation of heart, muscle and nerve functions.

As a bariatric surgery patient, it is absolutely essential that you take a good quality multiple vitamin and mineral product daily, for the rest of your life. You will also need to take additional calcium, Vitamin B-12 and perhaps Iron supplements. In some cases, Vitamin C and Zinc (optional) supplementation may also be appropriate. Although the specific amounts and types of vitamin and mineral supplements may vary by bariatric practice, bariatric surgeons and dietitians agree that these supplements are necessary to prevent vitamin and mineral deficiencies after bariatric surgery.

There are a variety of high quality vitamin and mineral supplements that will meet the needs of the bariatric surgery patient. If you have difficulty tolerating any of the supplements, make sure to call your dietitian of surgeon for suggestions. Consult with your bariatric health care provider before taking vitamin and mineral supplements.