The role of vitamin and mineral supplements following weight loss surgery
Dietetics is a vital role of your journey at Morphē prior to and after weight loss surgery with our surgeons.
Vitamin and mineral supplements is one part of your dietetic journey as it plays an essential role in life after weight loss surgery.
For our patients at Morphē, this starts from their very first days after surgery (sometime prior to surgery) and continues as a lifelong commitment to their health.
We asked our dietitians to answer some of the most common questions on this important topic.
Why do I need to take vitamins?
Wound healing and recovery:
In the early weeks following surgery, vitamins play a key role in supporting wound healing and recovery for our patients. With portion sizes at their smallest, the nutrition sourced from food is at an all time low, despite requirements being at an all time high. A high quality bariatric multivitamin, will cover almost all of your daily micronutrient requirements, so during these weeks, the focus is on getting established in a regular vitamin routine.
Reduce the risk of nutritional deficiencies:
In the longer term, vitamin and mineral supplements are needed to reduce the risk of, and in many cases prevent, nutritional deficiencies occurring. After weight loss surgery you not only have a reduced ability to absorb vitamins and minerals but a reduced capacity to consume adequate vitamins and minerals from foods. Both put you at a higher risk for the development of a deficiency.
Changes to absorption and capacity are permanent, meaning the heightened risk remains lifelong. And, surprisingly to many, we often see nutritional deficiencies develop in the longer term as opposed to within the first months or years following surgery.
To prevent other symptoms:
Nutritional deficiencies can lead to a range of symptoms that can impact on a patient’s quality of life (e.g. fatigue, weakness, hair loss, diarrhoea, impaired immune system) and in some cases, cause potentially life threatening health consequences. Correcting a deficiency, can also be a lengthy process and comes with an added burden and cost to the patient.
Hair Loss:
Hair loss is a hot topic in many of our consults and we understand how distressing it can be for our patients. There are many factors that play a role in hair loss, some within and others completely outside of your control.
Hair loss is common following any significant, and rapid weight loss, whether achieved via lifestyle modifications, medications or weight loss surgery. The stress of surgery on the body can also contribute to hair loss, particularly in the first few months post op. However, as both factors resolve with time, many patients see a reduction in hair loss and the beginnings of hair regrowth within their first twelve months.
As part of our role as dietitians at Morphē we aim to move the focus to what our patients can do to reduce the extent of hair loss and support hair regrowth. A key contributor to hair loss can be the development of nutritional deficiencies and surprising to many, but also nutritional toxicities (high levels of vitamins and minerals in the blood). In both cases, we stress the need to follow the vitamin regimen developed for you and to avoid any additional vitamins and supplements not recommended by our team. Regular blood tests to screen for deficiencies and toxicities are also arranged, and it is important that you complete these as directed.
What vitamins will I be required to take?
Most of our patients will require
- bariatric multivitamin and
- calcium supplement
Others may also require additional iron and/or vitamin B12, however, in all cases we work closely with our GP’s to tailor the vitamin regimen to the patient and their bloodwork.
Over the counter supplements are generally not suitable, containing inadequate quantities of some vitamins and excessive quantities of others, both of which can lead to negative health consequences.
Take home message
While vitamins do not eliminate the possibility of developing a nutrition deficiency after weight loss surgery, they play an important role in reducing your risk. When taken as directed, they have the power to act as a life insurance policy for your health.
Here at Morphē, we encourage our patients to have regular conversations with their dietitian about any aspects relating to vitamins and supplements.
Other important questions and their answers can be found here.
If you are a past or current patient of our surgeons who thinks it may be time to check in with your dietitian, please contact us to enquire here. Appointments are charged at 1 hour or 30 minutes.
If you have private health with extra’s cover that includes dietetics, you may receive a rebate from them, or pay the difference of the appointment fee.