Remember to take your recommended bariatric vitamins and minerals daily.
After bariatric surgery, your new stomach isn’t able to produce the same amount of gastric enzymes it could before to help you digest and absorb the nutrients in your food.
You are also eating significantly fewer nutrients daily and need the extra vitamins and minerals to support your normal body functioning and aid with weight loss.
It is important to have your labs checked by your primary doctor at least once a year to make sure everything is within acceptable levels.
Daily Nutrient Dosage
Below are the guidelines by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) for the amount of each nutrient that is recommended in your supplement.
Take iron separately from calcium and avoid taking with acid-reducing medications.
Sample Bariatric Multivitamin Regimen
Below is an example of how you can organize your vitamin/mineral regimen:
Breakfast: Take a multivitamin, additional Iron, and sublingual B12
Lunch: 500 mg of Calcium + Vitamin D
Dinner: 500 mg Calcium + Vitamin D (if you haven’t already taken 3,000 IU)
Bedtime: 500 mg of Calcium + any remaining Vitamin D
If you notice that you have nausea with taking the iron supplement, try moving any iron-containing medications to before your bedtime snack.