The Importance of Supplements Post Bariatric Weight Loss Surgery.
It’s easy to forget The Importance of Supplements post Bariatric Weight Loss Surgery. However, they are essential for your optimal health and wellbeing. You will quickly feel the effects of not taking your supplements or indeed not receiving adequate dosage. A simple blood test requested by your GP or Dietitian will allow them to recommend which supplements you need, and levels required.
Missing a day here and there is ok, we all do it. But it really is imperative that you stick to a committed daily routine of taking your supplements. Keeping a diary on your kitchen bench and ticking it off each day will alleviate any amnesia on your part.
Remember this is a lifelong regime required for ongoing health of your body and mind.
In this Series we will take a quick look at each of the Essential Vitamins & Minerals required after Bariatric Weight Loss Surgery.
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 is a powerhouse. It helps make DNA, nerve and blood cells, and is crucial for a healthy brain and immune system.
A Vitamin B12 deficiency is the most common deficiency among people who have undergone bariatric surgery. While about 5% of patients have this deficiency prior to surgery, about 13% have it once surgery is complete. The B12 deficiency tends to occur due to the inadequate digestion of vitamin B12.
B12 plays a vital role in nervous system functioning and the growth and replication of cells. Potential complications from having a deficiency in vitamin B12 include:
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- Heart palpitations
- Shortness of breath
- Light-headedness
- Pale skin
- Loss of appetite
- Diarrhea
- Vision loss
- Memory loss
- Depression
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Bariatric patients are more likely to develop a vitamin B12 deficiency than other people because their digestive tracts have been changed.
This causes an interference with the natural absorption of B12. In adults who have not undergone bariatric surgery, the body uses stomach acid to break down vitamin B12, which lets it get absorbed into the body.
There are several ways to take your supplements. My personal preference is via Sublingual methods, e.g.: Sprays, Dissolvable/Chewable tablets under the tongue, Liquids, Drops or powders. B12 injections are also very effective way of administering this vital supplement. Most vitamin and minerals tablets you get from the pharmacies are full of fillers and actually don’t dissolve that well for people who haven’t had Bariatric Surgery. Those of you who may have had Lap Band surgery will have found that tablets will have become stuck and caused many problems.
Sublingual ingestion, in my opinion. is the only viable way for Bariatric Surgery recipients to get the recommended requirements of Vitamins & Minerals necessary for optimal long-lasting health.
It is very important to understand the importance of Supplements post bariatric weight loss surgery due to the malabsorption issues created by the change in the gut microbiome.
Stay Savvy
