Post Bariatric Surgery Vitamin and Mineral Supplement Guide: Gastric Sleeve Guidelines

This information is brief and general. It should not be the only source of your information on this health care topic. It is not to be used or relied on for diagnosis or treatment. It does not take the place of instructions from your doctor.

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Take your prescribed medicine and your vitamin/mineral supplements at least 1 hour apart.

1 Day After Surgery

Start to take multivitamins with minerals

  • Chewable or liquid forms or crush whole pills or tablets
  • Take as directed on the label
  • Examples:
    • Centrum
    • One A Day
    • GNC Mega Men
    • MaryRuth’s Liquid Morning Multivitamin and Minerals
    • 2 Flintstones™ vitamins
  • Do not take gummy multivitamins
  • Take your multivitamin with minerals after a meal

3 Weeks After Surgery

  • Continue to take your multivitamins with minerals. You may now swallow whole tablets/pills
  • Calcium Citrate With Vitamin D
    • Take 500–600 mg of calcium citrate with vitamin D 2 separate times every day; your body cannot absorb more than about 650 mg at one time
      • Check the “supplement facts” label on the bottle to see how many mg are in 1 pill
      • Do not take calcium citrate with vitamin D within 2 hours of your iron pill for best absorption
    • Examples:
      • Caltrate 600+D3 Plus
      • Viactiv
      • Adora
      • Bluebonnet
      • Liquid Calcium Citrate
      • GNC 600 mg Calcium Chew
  • Vitamin B12
    • Take 500 mcg of vitamin B12 every day (or 1,000 mcg every other day) or ask your doctor about a monthly vitamin B12 injection
  • Vitamin D3
    • Take 1,000 IU vitamin D3 every day in addition to the vitamin D in your multivitamin and calcium supplements
      • Take after a meal that contains some fat
      • Can be taken with one of your calcium supplements

Sample Schedule for Vitamin/Mineral Supplements:

After breakfast

  • Multivitamin with minerals
  • 500–600 mg calcium with vitamin D
  • 500 mcg vitamin B12

After lunch or dinner

  • 500–600 mg calcium with vitamin D
  • 1,000 IU vitamin D3

Notes

It is very important that you take all these supplements for the rest of your life following your surgery. Your care team will monitor your blood work and will let you know if you need to take any additional vitamins, minerals, or supplements. If you have difficulty with your vitamin/mineral supplements or if you have another brand of supplement that you would like to use, please discuss with your registered dietitian/nutritionist.
 

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