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Vitamin Supplementation for Adjustable Gastric Band Patients

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With the exception of sublingual vitamin B12, which starts one week after surgery, your vitamins & minerals will start one month after surgery.   Your dietitian will discuss with you which vitamins & minerals you will need to take.   The following are required to be taken after your surgery:

  • 1 week post surgery: At 1 week out you will begin taking Sublingual B-12 (1,000 mcg) daily until your 1 month visit. 
  • 1 month post surgery: Begin chewable 
    • Multivitamin
    • Iron (26mg/d), 
    • Vitamin D3 (15,000 IU/weekly) 
    • Calcium Citrate (1000 mg/d, ONLY take 500 mg at one time to increase absorption)  
    • Decrease sublingual B12 to 1,000 mcg/week.

JourneyLite Physicians highly recommends Bariatric Advantage vitamins.  They are high-quality, pharmaceutical-grade products that are designed specifically for surgical weight loss patients! 

Vitamins are often not tolerated on an empty stomach.  Always take your vitamins later in the day, the best time being after lunch or dinner.

Beginning 60 days after your procedure, you may begin taking non-chewable supplements based on your tolerance.  

B-12 must remain sublingual or injectable long-term.  Oral tablets may not be absorbed.

 

Vitamin Tips and Information: 

The optimal form of iron for surgical weight loss patients is either Ferrous Fumarate or Ferrous Gluconate.  Ferrous Sulfate is the most commonly prescribed form of iron, but it is not well absorbed after your surgery.  It is also recommended that you avoid taking iron supplements at the same time as consuming coffee, tea, or antacids.   

If you are ever required to take Vitamin D, you want to make sure it’s Vitamin D3. 

The preferred form of calcium is calcium citrate. This is due to the lack of stomach acid being produced by your new pouch.  Calcium carbonate is the most common form found, but it is not absorbed well because it does require a larger amount of stomach acid to be absorbed.  Calcium and iron need to be spaced 2 hours apart.  They actually compete for the same absorption sites and can interfere with each other’s absorption. 

 

Products to Avoid: 

  • Centrum
  • One-A-Day
  • Flintstones
  • Generic store brands
  • “Gummy” type vitamins