Gastric bypass surgery can help those who are obese lose significant amounts of weight. However, the surgery alone is not enough for weight loss, you must make lifestyle changes as well. After the surgery you can no longer eat the way you did in the past because your stomach is much smaller. You also need to take supplements to avoid vitamin deficiencies.
Gastric Bypass and Vitamin Absorption
Because of the changes made to your digestive tract during gastric bypass surgery, you no longer absorb vitamins and minerals as well as people who have not had this surgery. You need to take supplements to meet your daily needs for these vitamins for the rest of your life to avoid serious vitamin and mineral deficiencies.
Necessary Supplements
Doctors recommend you take a multivitamin supplement as well as supplements for calcium with vitamin D, iron and vitamin B-12. Besides absorbing these vitamins less efficiently after surgery, you will also consume less of these vitamins and minerals due to eating very few calories and difficulties with eating red meat, dairy and foods high in fat.
Possible Deficiencies
Not taking your vitamins can lead to dangerous deficiencies, including a type of thiamine deficiency called Wernicke's encephalopathy that can cause heart or brain disorders. Vitamin A and vitamin D deficiencies are also common after gastric bypass surgery. Vitamin D deficiency can lead to calcium deficiency because vitamin D is necessary for calcium absorption.
Considerations
Even if you take supplements, you can still get vitamin deficiencies, so have your vitamin levels checked regularly. Chewable vitamins may be easier to take, especially in the first few months after your surgery. Iron and calcium should be taken separately, with iron taken on an empty stomach if you can tolerate it.
References
- Medical News Today; Vitamins Are Necessary After Gastric Bypass Surgery; October 2008
- Albany Medical Center: Frequently Asked Questions - Diet;
- "Annals of Surgery"; The Long-term Effects of Gastric Bypass on Vitamin D Metabolism; Jason M. Johnson, DO, et al.; May 2006
- "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition"; Vitamin Status After Bariatric Surgery: a Randomized Study of Gastric Bypass and Duodonal Switch; Erlend T. Aasheim, et al.; May 2009
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