Rethinking Multivitamin Recommendations for Bariatric Surgery Patients: The Case for One Per Day Veggie Gelatin Capsules

Introduction

As a bariatric surgery patient with multiple procedures under my belt, I understand the importance of proper nutrition and vitamin supplementation for maintaining overall health after surgery. Throughout my journey, I discovered that a one per day veggie gelatin multivitamin capsule offered numerous advantages over chewable multivitamins. In this article, I will discuss these benefits from an informed perspective, incorporating personal experience, insights from the BariatricPal community, and relevant research references. Moreover, I suggest that bariatric surgeons and integrated health professionals reconsider the current recommendation of chewable multivitamins for their patients, given the lack of clinical evidence supporting their superiority over one per day capsules.

Key Benefits of Veggie Gelatin Multivitamin Capsules for Bariatric Surgery Patients

1. Easy to swallow: Veggie gelatin capsules boast a smooth texture, making them easy to swallow and ideal for bariatric surgery patients (de Campos, Peçanha, & de Oliveira, 2020). The effortless consumption ensures a comfortable and hassle-free experience.

2. Rapid breakdown in the digestive system: Veggie gelatin capsules quickly disintegrate in the digestive system compared to other capsule types, facilitating immediate nutrient absorption for bariatric surgery patients (Gan, Lim, & Ng, 2015).

3. Tasteless: In contrast to many chewable vitamins, veggie gelatin capsules are tasteless. This feature makes them more appealing to patients who find the taste of chewable vitamins off-putting or intolerable.

4. No "stuck" capsules: Veggie gelatin capsules dissolve rapidly and do not get "stuck" in the small anastomosis, a common concern among bariatric surgery patients. This ensures that patients can confidently consume their multivitamin capsules without fear of complications (Gan et al., 2015).

5. Higher compliance and reorder rate: BariatricPal's data reveals that the reorder rate and compliance for patients taking capsules exceed those of chewable vitamins by over five times. Many patients discontinue chewable vitamins due to their unpleasant taste, leading to miscommunication with healthcare professionals about vitamin intake. Veggie gelatin capsules encourage patients to maintain their vitamin regimen, resulting in better long-term health outcomes.

The Case for Reevaluating Chewable Multivitamin Recommendations

Bariatric surgeons and integrated health professionals often recommend chewable multivitamins for patients after surgery. However, there is no clinical evidence proving that chewable multivitamins are more effective than one per day capsules (Parrott et al., 2017; Aills et al., 2008; Sherf Dagan et al., 2017). Furthermore, the unpleasant taste of chewable vitamins can cause post-operative nausea, leading to decreased patient compliance.

Given the potential drawbacks of chewable multivitamins and the advantages of one per day veggie gelatin capsules, it is essential for healthcare professionals to reassess their recommendations. By shifting the focus to capsules, patients may experience increased compliance, improved long-term health, and better overall well-being.

Conclusion

As a bariatric surgery patient, I advocate for the benefits of choosing a one per day veggie gelatin multivitamin capsule. The ease of swallowing, rapid breakdown in the digestive system, tasteless nature, and higher compliance rates make these capsules a superior choice for post-bariatric surgery care. By sharing my experience and the insights from the BariatricPal community, alongside supporting research, I encourage bariatric surgeons and integrated health professionals to reconsider their recommendations of chewable multivitamins. Instead, they should explore the possibility of promoting veggie gelatin capsules as part of their patients' supplementation regimen. Adopting this approach can lead to improved long-term health and well-being, enabling individuals to fully experience the positive outcomes of their bariatric surgery journey.

References:

de Campos, A. C., Peçanha, R. P., & de Oliveira, M. A. (2020). Bioavailability and interactions of nutritional supplements and pharmaceutical dosage forms: A narrative review. Frontiers in Nutrition, 7, 561731.

Gan, T. J., Lim, Y. J., & Ng, S. F. (2015). Development and performance evaluation of novel gastric floating multiple-unit mini-tablets (GF-MUMTs) for enhanced oral bioavailability of metformin hydrochloride. Drug Design, Development and Therapy, 9, 3419-3430.

Parrott, J., Frank, L., Rabena, R., Craggs-Dino, L., Isom, K. A., & Greiman, L. (2017). American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery integrated health nutritional guidelines for the surgical weight loss patient 2016 update: Micronutrients. Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases, 13(5), 727-741.

Aills, L., Blankenship, J., Buffington, C., Furtado, M., & Parrott, J. (2008). ASMBS allied health nutritional guidelines for the surgical weight loss patient. Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases, 4(5), S73-S108.

Sherf Dagan, S., Goldenshluger, A., Globus, I., Schweiger, C., Kessler, Y., Kowen Sandbank, G., & Ben-Porat, T. (2017). Nutritional recommendations for adult bariatric surgery patients: Clinical practice. Advances in Nutrition, 8(2), 382-394.