If you’ve been looking into weight loss surgery, you have likely read that patients need to take chewable vitamins. But why chewable vitamins after bariatric surgery? Let’s take a look.
Why are vitamins necessary?
Undergoing weight loss surgery involves drastically changing your digestive system, in addition to your daily diet. Depending on the type of bariatric surgery you have, your ability to absorb and digest food and its nutrients will change. To lose weight with these surgeries, a portion of your stomach may be removed, which limits how much food you can intake. Or, the food will bypass certain areas of digestion, which reduces how many calories are absorbed.
Because of these changes, it is critical for weight loss surgery patients to take bariatric vitamins and minerals for the rest of their lives. Doing this will ensure their body gets what it needs to stay healthy and active.
Before your surgery, however, it is important to make sure you are not vitamin deficient in any area. Your doctor will run bloodwork to ensure everything is okay, but if there are deficiencies noticed, you may need to work on getting those corrected beforehand. Doing so will ensure that you have a better surgical outcome.
What kind of chewable vitamins can bariatric patients take and why?
Right after surgery, patients will need to take capsule, liquid, or chewable vitamins and mineral supplements. This allows for easier digestion and will cause less irritation as your body recovers from your bariatric procedure. It is very important to continue taking your vitamins every day and continue with annual checkups to ensure that there are no micronutrient deficiencies.
Not sure which vitamins and minerals you need? Your surgeon and medical team will walk you through the various products you will need to take. Patients generally need to take a bariatric multivitamin, in addition to vitamin B12, calcium, iron, a probiotic, and vitamin D. It is best to take them before or after you eat a meal, to improve absorption and reduce your risk of developing an upset stomach or nausea.
When choosing your vitamins, make sure that they are bariatric specific. Certain vitamins, such as gummy vitamins, are NOT recommended after weight loss surgery.
At WeightWise, we are dedicated to walking alongside our patients to ensure they have the best possible outcome after weight loss surgery. We will make sure you have all your questions answered about your vitamin and mineral supplements and help you with a dietary plan that sets you up for success. Contact us today to learn more!