Question:
B COMPLEX OR SEPERATE B12??

I was wondering if I should take a B Complex or must I take B12 by itself? If I take a sublingual B12 should I also take a B Comlex? Thanks, Kelly*    — Kelly* P. (posted on April 25, 2004)

April 25, 2004
We do tend to malabsorb all B vitamins, so a B complex may be a good idea (as always, check with your doc). However, absorption of B12 requires a particular enzyme that is produced in the lower part of the stomach, that RNYers no longer have available. So, if you've had RNY, you do need to take a separate B12 (either a sublingual--melted under the tongue--or shot so that it gets into your system). B12 that's swallowed will not be absorbed nearly well enough.
   — Vespa R.

April 25, 2004
I had an RNY and my surgeon just has us take a B Complex daily. I have talked w/ several other of his patients and they have not required any additional B-12 other than what is found in the pill. I have my first labwork in about a month, so I'll know then if I'm getting enough from the pill. Though technically we aren't supposed to be able to absorb it with having the RNY, my surgeon said very few of his patients require anything above the one pill, so something is happening somehow for the absorption. He did say he preferred the complex also because all the vitamins in it are important, not just the B-12. Good luck :)
   — M. Me

April 29, 2004
You need both . . . a good B Complex, and B12, either sublingual, or injected. Swallowing B12 does us no good, as we no longer have access to Intrinsic Factor, which is in the lower stomach.
   — RWH G.

April 29, 2004
I see so many people on the B-12 shots and I was wondering why? My Surgeon or Doctor has never mentioned anything about B-12, only taking 2 chewable flinstone vitamins a day, which I'm very bad at, I forget alot! Will this affect my body in the future? Thanks!
   — Sandy M.

April 29, 2004
To Sandy: yes it could hurt you in the future. WLS patients are at risk because of the malabsorption of essential nutrients. I know there are a lot of opinions about what we need to be taking so you probably want to do some research and decide what you think is best for you. I take calcium citrate because we are always at risk for osteoporosis, I take 1 sub-lingual B12 each week for energy, I take a pre-natal vitamin because I've been told they are probably one of the best vitamins, I have been taking Biotin to help with the hair regrowth but of all those, I consider the calcium and the pre-natal vitamin the most essential. I took the chewable Flintstones vitamin for the first month simply because it was chewable but they do not have the formulation needed by adults, particularly WLS patients. So my advice would be, do your research, settle on what you and your doctor think you need, then take them religiously. It is easier to prevent deficiencies than it is to cure them.
   — scbabe

April 29, 2004
My surgeon ssays regualar swallow B12s are fine for most of us posties. His group has done thousands of RNYs and i trust he knows whats up. My bloodwork was always fine but just to be safe I went from one to 3 regular pills a day, since it cant do any harm. I also take 2 or 3 flintstones chewables daily with iron, and calcium.
   — bob-haller

May 14, 2004
I take a liquid b-complex from GNC. My B-12 levels had dropped but were still in the "normal range" so I decided to add extra. It seems to be well absorbed my levels jumped way high after a couple months on them.
   — **willow**