Bariatric Surgery: The Supplements Surgeons Say You Must Have

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Along with providing information on whether Bariatric supplements might be right for you, this article also links to Fullscript where you can buy high quality supplements. Order online through Fullscript’s secure healthcare formulary to get the best prices and free shipping on professional-grade supplements.

Bariatric surgery has many health benefits–it’s true. However, when you are feeling good, it’s easy to slip out of the habit of taking the required nutrient supplements. DON’T DO IT! Your health is on the line, particularly bone health and brain health. Skip your calcium and you can bet on a future of brittle bones. Skip your other vitamins, and you will find that personality changes, brain fog, and dementia are on the way.

Common Nutrient Deficiencies After Bariatric Surgery

This is a list of common deficiencies of people who have had bariatric surgery. These are especially common in those people who don’t consistently take all of the recommended supplements.

Iron: Anemia, fatigue, pallor, shortness of breath. Common after gastric bypass and duodenal switch due to reduced stomach acid and bypassing the duodenum where iron is primarily absorbed. /PMC11768030
Calcium and Vitamin D: Bone pain, osteoporosis, osteomalacia, increased risk of fractures. Common after all types of bariatric surgery, especially those that bypass parts of the small intestine affecting calcium absorption. /PMC9744087
Vitamin B12: Anemia, neuropathy, memory loss, cognitive deficits, mood changes. Common after gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy, due to reduced production of intrinsic factor and stomach acid necessary for B12 absorption. /PMID: 24091055
Protein: Muscle weakness, hair loss, edema, general fatigue. Common after surgeries like biliopancreatic diversion that significantly reduce nutrient absorption. /PMID: 28155056
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine): Beriberi, Wernicke’s encephalopathy, peripheral neuropathy. Common after gastric bypass, particularly in patients experiencing frequent vomiting. /PMC6018594
Folate: Anemia, fatigue, mouth sores, changes in hair, skin, or fingernail pigmentation. Common after surgeries affecting absorption in the latter part of the small intestine. /PMC8147946
Vitamin B6: Anemia, dermatitis, depression, confusion, seizures. Common after gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy due to decreased dietary intake and altered gastrointestinal tract. /PMID: 17216818
Zinc: Hair loss, delayed wound healing, loss of taste or smell, night blindness. Common after gastric bypass due to decreased intake and malabsorption. /PMID: 20706804

The American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) has set nutrient requirements for each type of bariatric surgery. Here’s a link to the published ASMBS guidelines. for the recommended nutritional supplements you should take. Some people think that gastric sleeve surgery is simpler, so it must be associated with less need for nutrient supplements. This is absolutely not the case.

When you choose a specially formulated bariatric vitamin that meets ASMBS guidelines, you’ll need fewer pills. These are not offered on Fullscript. The general ASMBS supplementation needs for Roux-En-Y Gastric Bypass and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy are included below.

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Order Bariatric Supplements From Fullscript

Why Professionals Choose the Fullscript Formulary

Health professionals know that many online and retail options set a very low bar for quality– sometimes amazingly low. The Fullscript formulary is the most secure online source for the highest quality brands, securely sourced to assure freshness and purity. Here’s what makes Fullscript the best:

Meticulous vetting of brand quality. Meticulous vetting of brand quality. Health professionals trust Fullscript to monitor the quality of every item. While other retailers prioritize profit above all else, Fullscript focuses solely on quality and reliability. Unlike discount stores and large online marketplaces, you won’t find ingredients sourced from China or other questionable suppliers.

Free shipping over $50 and best prices when you order through Supplement Sciences.

Wide Selection: Access to the entire Fullscript formulary. Search for the exact brands and products you want.

Easy Sign-up & No Spam Email: Click “View Product” or the button below to be taken to Fullscript’s login page where you can quickly create your secure account with just your name, email, and phone number. Then you will be taken directly to the product page.

Access The Roux-En-Y Bariatric Supplement Plan

Access The Bariatric Sleeve Supplement Plan

This Article is Not a Substitute for Medical Advice

This information is provided for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice. Supplement Sciences does not provide medical care and cannot ensure the safety or effectiveness of any product for your personal use. Always consult your physician before starting any supplement, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or managing a serious health condition such as cancer, liver disease, or kidney disease. Dietary supplements are not designed to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

UNREVISED DRAFT

Secure Ordering | Free Shipping | Best Quality | Best Prices

Along with providing information on whether Bariatric supplements might be right for you, this article also links to Fullscript where you can buy high quality supplements. Order online through Fullscript’s secure healthcare formulary to get the best prices and free shipping on professional-grade supplements.

Bariatric surgery can bring many health improvements, but staying on top of your supplement routine remains important—even when you’re feeling well. It’s easy to forget or set them aside, but doing so can have long-term effects, especially on your bones and brain. Without enough calcium, bones can become weaker over time. Skipping other key vitamins may also affect memory, mood, and overall mental clarity. Keeping up with your supplements is a small daily habit that helps protect your long-term health.

Common Nutrient Deficiencies After Bariatric Surgery

This is a list of common deficiencies of people who have had bariatric surgery. These are especially common in those people who don’t consistently take all of the recommended supplements.

Iron: Low iron can lead to anemia, tiredness, pale skin, and shortness of breath. These issues are often seen after gastric bypass and duodenal switch procedures, as both surgeries lower stomach acid and bypass the part of the intestine where iron is mainly absorbed. /PMC11768030
Calcium and Vitamin D: When these nutrients are low, people may experience bone pain, weaker bones, and a higher chance of fractures. This is especially common after surgeries that skip parts of the small intestine where calcium is normally absorbed. /PMC9744087
Vitamin B12: A lack of B12 may cause anemia, nerve problems, memory issues, and mood changes. This is more common after gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy, which both reduce stomach acid and intrinsic factor—two things needed for B12 to be absorbed. /PMID: 24091055
Protein: Not getting enough protein can result in muscle weakness, hair loss, swelling in the legs or feet, and low energy. This is often seen in people who’ve had surgeries like biliopancreatic diversion, which greatly reduce nutrient absorption. /PMID: 28155056
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine): A thiamine shortage can lead to serious conditions such as beriberi or Wernicke’s encephalopathy, along with nerve-related symptoms like tingling or numbness. This is more likely after gastric bypass, especially in people who have frequent vomiting. /PMC6018594
Folate: Low folate levels may lead to anemia, feeling tired, mouth sores, and changes in hair or skin. This is often seen after procedures that affect the lower part of the small intestine, where folate is absorbed. /PMC8147946
Vitamin B6: Deficiency may cause anemia, skin inflammation, mood changes, and in more serious cases, seizures. This can occur after gastric bypass or sleeve surgery due to changes in diet and how the gut handles nutrients. /PMID: 17216818
Zinc: Not getting enough zinc may result in hair loss, slow healing of cuts, changes in taste or smell, and trouble seeing in low light. Zinc issues are common after gastric bypass due to both lower intake and reduced absorption. /PMID: 20706804

The American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) has outlined specific nutrient needs for each type of bariatric surgery. Here’s a link to the published ASMBS guidelines. for the recommended nutritional supplements you should take.

It’s a common belief that gastric sleeve surgery requires fewer supplements because it’s less invasive. However, this isn’t true—nutrient needs remain significant regardless of the type of surgery.

Choosing a bariatric-specific multivitamin that meets ASMBS guidelines can help reduce the number of separate pills you need each day. These formulations are not available through Fullscript. Below are the general supplementation guidelines for Roux-En-Y Gastric Bypass and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy.

Jump to Supplements ↓

When you purchase linked products presented on this page, Supplement Sciences, LLC receives affiliate fees so that our dietitians can continue to create great content.

Thank you for your support!

Order Bariatric Supplements From Fullscript

Why Professionals Choose the Fullscript Formulary

Health professionals know that many online and retail options set a very low bar for quality– sometimes amazingly low. The Fullscript formulary is the most secure online source for the highest quality brands, securely sourced to assure freshness and purity. Here’s what makes Fullscript the best:

Meticulous vetting of brand quality. Meticulous vetting of brand quality. Health professionals trust Fullscript to monitor the quality of every item. While other retailers prioritize profit above all else, Fullscript focuses solely on quality and reliability. Unlike discount stores and large online marketplaces, you won’t find ingredients sourced from China or other questionable suppliers.

Free shipping over $50 and best prices when you order through Supplement Sciences.

Wide Selection: Access to the entire Fullscript formulary. Search for the exact brands and products you want.

Easy Sign-up & No Spam Email: Click “View Product” or the button below to be taken to Fullscript’s login page where you can quickly create your secure account with just your name, email, and phone number. Then you will be taken directly to the product page.