Question:
Anyone know if there are vitamin formulations especially for WLS patients?

My tentative surgery date is 5/21/01 and I recently had my nutritional evaluation. The nutritionist counselled me on all the vitamins I'll need to take, both pre-op as well as post-op, so now I'm looking for the best stuff to take & want to start it ASAP. Can any one give me any suggestions/advise; are there any formulations made especially for WLS patients, or any "normal people" formulations that are just as good? Any advise on protein supplements? So far, I've found on web "Vitalady" that looks nice, and heard of "vita4life", but can't find their web site. TIA.    — lalasmommy (posted on March 31, 2001)

March 31, 2001
I use Physician's Pro Care chewable multivitamin with iron - recommended by my surgeon. Toll-free 888-807-7622. I also use Calcium Citrate (only form of calcium bypass patients can absorb) with Vitamin D & magnesium. I also use Pro Score 100 chocolate protein powder by Champion. Also Ultimate Lo Carb 2 protein bars by Biochem. I get the last three products from Michelle Curran at Vitalady.com
   — [Deactivated Member]

April 4, 2001
You can absorb calcium citrate OR calcium carbonate just fine. If only c.citrate is absorbable, then there would be a lot of post-ops reporting calcium deficiencies here, and it just doesn't exist. As it's been pointed out before, the efficacy of calcium citrate over calcium carbonate is bogus. Why waste your money? Don't believe me, or anyone else before checking the facts for yourself. Go to a search engine like metacrawler.com and enter the 3 words "calcium citrate carbonate" and search on "all words". The only people who claim the citrate form is better is the company who makes it, and the people who sell it. Even the "famous University of Texas study that proves citrate works" was funded by the drug company that makes it. It even used a doasge of citrate not available in their over the counter product. Calcium carbonate is 40% calcium. The rest is carbonate. Of that 40%, only about 2% is small enough to be used by the body. To determine calcium content multiply by 0.4. Example: 500 milligrams calcium carbonate x 40% = 200 milligrams of elemental calcium. Calcium citrate, a chelated mineral, is 21% calcium. It is basically calcium carbonate wrapped with a covering derived from citric acid. To determine calcium content, multiply by 0.21. Example: 500 milligrams calcium citrate x 21% = 105 milligrams of elemental calcium. Do the math. You end up pay twice as much for calcium citrate, but only get about half the calcium that's in the carbonate version.
   — [Anonymous]

May 30, 2001
The Web Address is www.vita4life.net. I ordered the capsules. Ther are big but go down surprisingly easy, because I can't handle "horse pills". You have to check with your doc about how many to take, but they include everything. I had and RNY and I take 4 a day so one can lasts me 3 months.
   — D. F.