Will I have to take vitamins forever after gastric bypass surgery?

It is true that everyone who has a bariatric operation should take multivitamins for the rest of their lives. With that being said, so should we all! The reason for this is that after bariatric surgery, one will not be able to eat large meals. The reduction in calories also means a reduction in the amount of vitamin and minerals they can take in. In addition, there are certain foods they will not be able to eat very much of (e.g. fruits, breads, etc.). Without being able to tolerate acceptable proportions of the daily food groups, certain vitamin and minerals are just absent from their diet. Therefore, it is recommended that bariatric surgery patients take a multivitamin every morning and evening for life.

This is more critical for the gastric bypass and biliopancreatic diversion operations as opposed to the gastric band and sleeve gastrectomy because of the mal absorption component of these operations. However, sleeve gastrectomy patients can lose as much weight as a gastric bypass in the first year. It is this rapid weight loss in such a short period of time that is the true mechanism and risk for vitamin deficiency. Therefore, good compliance is key to not developing problems in the first year. Once the weight loss slows down or stops, the risk of vitamin deficiency is minimal. However, if a vitamin deficiency occurs, it is harder to replete because of malabsorption.

With that being said, everyone should recognize that the standard American diet today is lacking in vitamin and minerals. For the average person who monitors their vitamin and mineral intake and tries to conform to the recommended daily values, they are taking vitamins because they know it is nearly impossible to do with food alone. Our diets are no longer nutritious enough to provide all the mineral and vitamins we need.

Needless to say, there is a whole different topic on which vitamins are good and which are not. Generally speaking, I recommend you give your body a treat every day and take a multivitamin!

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