As the Linus Pauling Institute reports, many people are deficient in vitamin D these days. Those low in vitamin D are often advised to take a vitamin D supplement. The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery points out that gastric bypass patients are at greater risk for vitamin D deficiency due to having part of their small intestine bypassed. They should get regular blood tests to monitor their vitamin D levels and supplement as necessary. The dose a patient should take should be based on the results of blood tests; the optimal dose will vary from patient to patient.
Bariatric Advantage Liquid Vitamin D3
Bariatric Advantage liquid vitamin D3 is preferred by some gastric bypass patients that prefer not to swallow a lot of pills. Some surgeons also recommend patients use liquid or chewable vitamins for a while after surgery. Vitamin D comes in two forms, D2 and D3, and the Linus Pauling Institute explains that D3 is absorbed best by everyone, including but not limited to gastric bypass patients. The liquid vitamin D from Bariatric Advantage is D3 and each dose contains 10,000 IU. For a smaller dose, you can take just half a dropper full. It must be ordered online.
Celebrate Bariatric Supplements Vitamin D Quick-Melt
The Celebrate Bariatric Supplements vitamin D quick-melts dissolve quickly in your mouth, providing 5000 IU D3 per tablet. It’s another good choice for those that don’t want to swallow pills or are advised not to swallow pills by their surgeons. It must be ordered online.
Drisdol Prescription Vitamin D
Drisdol is a vitamin D supplement that is only available by prescription. It contains 50,000 IU D2 and is often prescribed once per week when patients have very low vitamin D levels. Since it’s D2 instead of D3, though, it’s not absorbed as well as a supplement containing D3. It also provides D2 in softgels filled with oil, which don’t work too well for gastric bypass patients since they malabsorb fats. It can be obtained from any pharmacy with a prescription from a physician.
Vitalady Tender Vitamin D3-50
Vitalady Tender D3-50 is D3 in 50,000 IU capsules. It’s a good alternative to Drisdol for gastric bypass patients, since it’s D3 and it’s also dry, not in oil. It’s what I personally use and I love that it comes in such a big dose because like many gastric bypass patients, I need big doses. However, I don’t have to take it every day; I take it four times a week, instead of taking 20,000 IU every day. I like having fewer pills to take, at least on some days. It must be ordered online.
A Word about the Dose of Vitamin D Supplements
The amount of vitamin D a patient needs depends on the results of his or her blood tests. All gastric bypass patients should have their vitamin D levels tested regularly and base their doses on the results. Talk to your doctor and request a vitamin D test if you’re not sure how much you should be taking. Make sure your doctor understands that as a gastric bypass patient, you no longer absorb vitamin D well so you may require a much larger dose than people that have not had gastric bypass surgery. Keep in mind that it is possible to take too much vitamin D, though, so be sure to base your dose on the results of your blood tests.
Sources:
Linus Pauling Institute. http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/vitamins/vitaminD/. Vitamin D.
Bariatric Nutrition. http://nutrition.otago.ac.nz/__data/assets/file/0005/4784/BariatricNutritionReading.pdf. Suggestions for the Surgical Weight Loss Patient.
Bariatric Advantage. http://www.bariatricadvantage.com/catalog/categoryHandler?cat=Bariatric%20Advantage%20%3A%20Vitamin%20D. Vitamin D.
Celebrate Bariatric Supplements. https://www.celebratevitamins.com/shop/other-supplements/vitamin-d/vitamin-d-5000-orange-90-day.html. Vitamin D 5000 IU Quick-Melt.
Drugs.com. http://www.drugs.com/mtm/drisdol.html. Drisdol.
WLS Vitagarten. http://wlsvitagarten.com/2011/11/29/meta-analysis-looks-at-d2-vs-d3/#more-2759. Meta-Analysis Looks at D2 vs. D3.
WLS Vitagarten. http://wlsvitagarten.com/2010/03/22/scripted-d-fail/. Scripted D Fail.
Vitalady. http://www.vitalady.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?search=action&keywords=vtmnd&template=Templates/Vitamin_D.html. D Vitamins.