Nutritional Recommendations for Band Patients
Adjustable Gastric Band patients are still recommended to take vitamins. It is true, that the chance of a nutritional deficiency is uncommon if one is eating a healthy diet since there is no “malabsorption” of the food that is being consumed. But two main factors influence this recommendation. Of note, many patients come to surgery with a nutritional deficit and many of our lives are busy making it difficult to ensure a proper food balance on a daily basis. Standard multivitamin preparations located at grocery stores, vitamin shops, and Costco are probably fine. Make sure to clear your decision with our dietitians Mary and Allison. Calcium is the other recommended supplement. Most dietary professionals agree on 1200 mg per day of Calcium. This mineral is packaged in a variety of forms, from tablets, chews, powder, and shakes. My office carries the Bariatric Advantage product line for your convenience. Try to find a product that has Vitamin D incorporated into the supplement.
So all you Band patients, stay healthy and remember your multivitamin and Calcium!