Dietary supplements for bariatric surgery

Restrictive techniques: in which there is a reduction in the size of the stomach, which reduces food intake.
This group includes: vertical gastrectomy, adjustable gastric banding and gastric pacing.

Malabsorptive techniques: in which there is a crossing of part of the small intestine, reducing the circulation of ingested food and thus reducing the absorption of nutrients (carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins and minerals).
In this group are: biliopancreatic diversion, SADIS and duodenal crossing.

Mixed techniques: a reduction in the size of the stomach is performed (not as striking as in restrictive techniques) and a crossing of part of the small intestine (less than in malabsorptive techniques), which causes a reduction in the amount of food ingested and a decrease in the absorption of nutrients (carbohydrates, fat, proteins, vitamins and minerals).
This group includes:Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and single anastomosis gastric bypass (BAGUA).

As positive aspects, the following stand out:
- Significant and sustained weight loss.
- Improvement of diseases associated with obesity: diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension, etc.
- Improvement in the quality of life.

As less positive aspects, at a nutritional level, the following stand out:
- Deficiencies of some vitamins (vitamin D and B12, mainly).
- Deficiencies of some minerals (iron and calcium, mainly).
- Deficiencies in proteins.

After bariatric surgery, it is not possible to ingest the sufficient amount of vitamins, minerals and proteins that our organism needs through food.

This happens for two reasons:
1. New situation of the digestive system (reduced stomach size, reduced absorption, etc.).
2. Inadequate intake of these nutrients through food.

These low levels of vitamins and minerals not only occur in the first months after surgery, this situation is maintained over time because your digestive system has been modified after surgery.

Therefore, it is necessary to take a specific nutritional supplement with the vitamins and minerals you need after bariatric surgery. Using a non-specific polyvitamin will not provide you with all the vitamins and minerals you need, which can lead to health problems related to these nutritional deficiencies.

Vitamins and minerals are essential nutrients for our body, we are not able to "manufacture" them, we have to ingest them through food or nutritional supplements. Vitamins and minerals are necessary for all the cells in our body to function properly. If we do not ingest enough of them, our body can become ill.

After bariatric surgery, it is not possible to ingest the sufficient amount of proteins that our organism needs through food.

This happens for two reasons:
1. New situation of the digestive system (reduction of the size of the stomach, reduction of absorption, etc.).
2. Inadequate protein intake through food.

This low protein intake not only occurs in the first months after surgery, this situation can be maintained over time, because your digestive system has been modified after surgery.

Therefore, it is necessary that, if protein intake through food is not enough, you take a protein module that helps you to ingest the full amount of protein you need. Proteins are a very important nutrient for the body, because they are part of all our body cells, muscles, organs, etc.

After surgery it is important that you ingest enough protein so that your body can be in perfect condition and you can do all the activities you propose. If we do not ingest enough protein, our body can become ill.

Vitamins are essential nutrients that our body needs to grow and develop normally, that is, to maintain our health and well-being. After bariatric surgery, vitamin and mineral deficiencies can occur, which can lead to serious health problems if an appropriate diet and supplementation are not carried out.

The best vitamins for bariatric patients are those that are formulated based on the scientific guidelines on bariatric surgery and that take into account the specific needs of each type of surgery.

Bariatric surgery modifies the digestive system either by decreasing the intake of nutrients or by decreasing the absorption of nutrients, causing deficiencies that can lead to problems such as anemia, hair loss, osteoporosis, etc. In addition, bariatric surgery is not reversible so we will need that supplementation for life.