For the first 4 weeks after surgery, supplements need to be chewable, liquid, powder, crushed, or crumbled. You will need to take these two every day for the rest of your life.
Multivitamin
Your multivitamin should have:
- Thiamin
- 400 mcg folic acid
- 18mg iron
- Purchase bariatric surgery approved multivitamin for at least the 1st-month post-op, on pg 47.
- Take 2 servings of multivitamin, 1x/day with a meal.
- Separate from Calcium Citrate by at least 2 hours.
- Do not purchase Gummy Vitamins
Calcium Citrate + Vitamin D
-
Purchase Liquid or Chewable for at least the 1st-month post-op, approved list on pg 47.
-
Supplement 1200-1500mg total daily.
-
Take 2-3 separate times per day, with meals, since body can only absorb 500-600mg at one time.
-
Separate from multivitamin.
-
Make sure it is Calcium Citrate.
Sample Schedule:
Take 500 mg calcium with each meal and 2 servings of multivitamin with a snack
– or –
Breakfast – take 2 servings multi – Lunch – take 500 mg Calcium –
For dinner – take 500 mg of Calcium – Before Bed – take 500 mg of Calcium
TIPS: download the Baritastic app for reminders, set 2 hr. alarms on the phone, and have a set of supplements at work and home.
Approved Bariatric Vitamins
Approved Multivitamins
Chewable (for at least 1st mo post-op)
- Bariatric Advantage Multi EA
- Flintstone Chewable Complete
- Centrum Adults Under 50 Chewable (NOT Centrum Silver)
- Bariatric Essential Multi
- DEKAs Bariatric Chewable Multi
- Celebrate Multi-Complete Chewable
- Opurity Bypass and Sleeve Optimized
- ProCare Health Bariatric Chewable
Pills (may start one-month post-op)
- Bariatric Advantage Ultra Multi with Iron
- Centrum Adults Under 50 Tablets (NOT Centrum Silver)
Alive!
- Daily Energy
- Ultra Potency
- Women’s Ultra Potency
Nature Made
- Multi Complete
- Multi for Her
- Multi Prenatal
One A Day Women’s Petite
Approved Calcium Citrate
Chewable (for at least 1st mo post-op)
- Bariatric Advantage Chewable Tablet
- Bariatric Advantage Chewy Bites
- Calcet Creamy Bites
- Celebrate Calcium Citrate soft chews
- Celebrate Calcium Citrate Chewable tablet
- Opurity Calcium Citrate Chewable
Liquid (for at least 1st mo post-op)
- Wellesse Liquid Calcium Citrate
- Bluebonnet Liquid Calcium Citrate
- Solgar Liquid Calcium Citrate
- Natures Blend Liquid Calcium Citrate
Pills (may start one-month post-op)
- Citracal Regular
- Citracal Petite
- Bariatric Advantage Calcium Citrate Non-Chewable Tablet
- Celebrate Calcium PLUS tablet
Additional Vitamin Guidelines
- Calcium and iron (in the multivitamin) bind, so don’t take them together. Separate calcium and
- multivitamin/iron by at least 2 hours.
- Avoid Gummy Multivitamins, Men’s Vitamins, Older Adult and “Silver Vitamins”.
- Avoid herbs and herbal extracts without talking to your healthcare provider first.
- Avoid taking vitamins on an empty stomach, and use water to swallow your pills.
- Choose the fewest number of other ingredients (e.g. sugars, herbs, caffeine, etc.).
- Check the expiration date and use by this date.