Vitamin and mineral problems can occur after weight loss surgery, but in general this issue is overestimated by the average patient. Patients who have precipitous weight loss after gastric bypass surgery, are down to or below their ideal body weight, or who have had mechanical complications related to the surgeries that could have resulted in malnutrition are far more likely to suffer vitamin and mineral deficiencies than average patients.
Since the LapBand operation does not change the intestinal anatomy the absorption of vitamins and minerals are not much affected. Vitamin and mineral deficiencies are rare. We recommend LapBand patients only take a multivitamin such as VITABAND.
Gastric Bypass patients can develop deficiencies as a result of the change in the anatomy. These problems occur in a minority of patients. However, it is absolutely essential that patients be screened for these problems by routine blood tests periodically. We do this before each appointment, starting 3 months after surgery.
The standard laboratory blood tests we check on the patients are….
- Blood count (CBC)
- Electrolytes (SMA-7)
- Ionized Calcium
Parathyroid Hormone Level (PTH)
- Albumin
- Pre-albumin
- Total Protein
- Iron
Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC)
- Ferritin
- Vitamin B12
- Vitamin B1
- Folate