After bariatric surgery, nutrient absorption and nutritional needs of patients are altered. The surgery prevents individuals from eating enough food to get these nutrients from diet, and digestion is altered as a result from the surgery as well. According to the Department of Bariatric Surgery at Western Pennsylvania Hospital, individuals who do not take nutritional supplements will become malnourished and can suffer subsequent health problems.
Iron
Anemia is often seen in patients who had bariatric surgery. According to the National Anemia Action Council, iron deficiency is the most common reason for anemia after bariatric surgery, affecting 20 to 49 percent of patients. Vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiencies can also cause anemia, but an iron deficiency is more likely. Patients who had bariatric surgery are recommended to take a multivitamin with iron, and many physicians recommend taking an iron supplement indefinitely. Consuming large amounts of soda, tea or coffee can interfere with the body's ability to absorb iron, and post-surgery blood tests are commonly used to monitor iron levels.
Calcium and Vitamin D
Bariatric surgery can also impact the body's ability to absorb calcium, says the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. Multivitamins usually contain a small amount of calcium, and individuals who undergo bariatric surgery may need higher levels of calcium. The Department of Bariatric Surgery at Western Pennsylvania Hospital recommends these patients consume an additional 1,000 to 1,200 mg of calcium daily. For optimal absorption, these supplements should not be taken within two hours of iron supplements. There are different types of calcium supplements, but calcium citrate is more easily absorbed by patients who have has bariatric surgery. Vitamin D is necessary to help the body absorb and use calcium, and bariatric surgery patients should take daily doses of 1,000 IU of vitamin D, says Western Pennsylvania Hospital.
Vitamin B12
Bariatric surgery impairs the body's ability to digest and absorb vitamin B12 obtained from food. The amount of vitamin B12 needed is not adequately absorbed via a pill, so alternate routes of administration are needed. Western Pennsylvania Hospital states that for bariatric surgery patients, this vitamin needs to be administered directly into the bloodstream, via either monthly injections of vitamin B12 or sublingual vitamin B12 that can be taken daily, every other day or weekly, depending on the strength of the supplement.
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