Gastric Bypass and Vitamin Deficiency? Gastric bypass alters everything about the body, from the way you eat, function, and engage in certain activities. It has many advantages and disadvantages to doing the operation, and people have had various experiences even years after they have done the surgery.
One of the major factors discussed by those who have done the surgery and those who are considering it is – vitamins and other nutrients deficiency. Bear in mind, diets will be altered after the surgery, and as such, certain foods will no longer be appetizing to the patient. This will result in many nutrients being missing from the diet, and then again…it can be a little hard as not all vitamins can be taken or as often as you normally do.
Gastric Bypass and Vitamin Deficiency: What to Expect
After gastric bypass, most patients have noted their problems with vitamin B12 deficiency, and when this happens, other complications will develop, such as anemia, which is extreme weakness and fatigue. Other issues include cognitive and neuropathy difficulties.
What Happens When Bariatric Patients Don’t Take Vitamins?
For the most part, gastric bypass can be good, but the procedure is putting restrictive barriers on the intestines could have long-term nutritional drawbacks. One of the best ways to ensure the right amounts of nutrients enter the body is conducting post-surgery monitoring and medical check-ups. When a patient does not take enough vitamins, their body will get so weak and drained, which will lead to further medical issues. The body’s function will be reduced as there are lowered cognitive abilities that help the patients get around easily and proactively. Also, limited vitamin intake means patients will suffer from extreme anemia and memory loss due to neurological complications. Seeing your body has undergone a major change, lack of sufficient vitamins means patients are at risk of developing bone and kidney disease because the body can no longer absorb critical vitamins like calcium.
What Vitamins Do Bariatric Patients Need?
After gastric bypass, patients are required to take their vitamins to help supplement their small food intake. Doctors provide their patients with critical care packages and modules for them to follow after the surgery to help their bodies stay in shape. Doctors highly recommend gastric bypass patients to ensure they get enough Vitamin B12, calcium with Vitamin D, multivitamin, Vitamin D, and iron with Vitamin C. Bear in mind, the amounts of food one intake after the surgery is relatively low and with the body now harder to absorb certain Vitamins, one has to be careful how they operate.
Can Bariatric Patients Take Gummy Vitamins?
We will start by saying avoid these vitamin options and opt for something more efficient and effective. Gummy vitamins do not contain as many nutrients as your body would need to function efficiently. After gastric bypass, you may want to avoid excess sugar as this can lead to nausea, diarrhea, bloating, and many other digestive issues. As for gummy vitamins, they contain a lot of food coloring, and this, too, is something you really want to avoid at all costs. Besides, these options do not have enough vitamins that are essentially effective in helping your body. Furthermore, if you are already taking select vitamins recommended by your health practitioner, it is not a wise decision to over-take any form of supplements – your body no longer absorbs as it used to, and the excess might be diverted elsewhere and cause problems.
Gastric Bypass and Vitamin Deficiency: Which Bariatric Vitamin Is Best?
Doing gastric bypass means you no longer operate the same as before when eating and taking your required vitamins quantity. After your medical procedure, it is recommended to take high-potency vitamins, which contain certain mg – 400 mcg of folic acid, 18 mg of iron, inc, and copper. This should be taken daily or as recommended by your doctor. Numerous brands offer vitamins with these nutrient quantities. Bear in mind, you may have to take various types of vitamins for the rest of your life.
Why Do Gastric Bypass Patients Need B12?
After doing gastric bypass, patients have to be mindful that they have to take vitamin supplements to help keep their bodies going. One such essential nutrient is Vitamin B12. So, how important is this Vitamin to the body? Vitamin B12 helps the body in terms of improving the health status of the nervous system as well as the blood cells. It is essential in making DNA, which is the genetic material found in each cell. This Vitamin is also vital in preventing anemia, which can make patients extremely weak and tired if not treated. Take note, gastric bypass decreases the ability to digest food as easily as before, and as such, deficiency in vital Vitamins could be a bad sign. The stomach acid helps to absorb Vitamin B12 from food such as meat but seeing the body produces less stomach acid and food intake is less, the amount of B12 in the body will lower just the same.
How Much B12 Should Bariatric Patients Take?
Bariatric patients’ bodies function differently after the procedure has been done successfully. Therefore, the right amounts of Vitamins are needed to help function effectively. After the surgery, doctors recommend patients take an estimated 500 mcg of Vitamin B12 per day. The body needs enough of this Vitamin, and when searching for the best options, recommendations detail that B-12 that can dissolve easily is the best choice – whether chewable tablets or those that melt in the mouth.