Supplements: Vitamin K and Potassium?

[Maggie Journey 126]

Hi all,

I'm putting together my weekly supplements and meds (pre-op). I've looked online at the nutrient labels for the bariatric Multivitamins, and compared the label with my Adult 50+ Multivitamin that I use now. Although the levels vary, most of the Vitamins were on both labels. The exceptions are that on the bariatric label, there is no Vitamin K and no Potassium. Does anyone know if there's a reason that these two aren't supplemented for bariatric patients?

Also.... what about other things that I take now like coq10 and fish oil? Does anyone take these post-op?

thanks!!

[bhopeful 33]

I think fish oil and high omega-3s are essential for everyone. Also, Vitamin K is essential, and I have read that everyone should be on vitamin d3, together with vitamin k2. Read up about vitamin K on dr. Mercola website- he has a lot of good information and research based information on vitamin K. He also talks about co q10 and the need for that as we age.

[bhopeful 33]

K2. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2015/10/05/benefits-vitamin-k2.aspx

[bhopeful 33]

From Mercola.com. ...CoQ10 has actually been the subject of thousands of research studies, and in addition to the new finding above that coq10 may help reduce the risk of fatty liver in people with obesity, coq10 may also:

Help you produce more energy for your cells

Boost your heart health

Act as an antioxidant to protect you from free radicals

Help you reduce the signs of normal aging

Help you maintain blood pressure levels within the normal range

Provide a boost to your immune system

Support your nervous system

[talking mountain 26]

I wouldn't believe anything in the mercola website regarding "need" for supplements. Their whole reason for existence is to SELL supplements.

There have been many studies now showing that supplements do more harm than good unless you have an actual deficiency. And getting your nutrients from whole food sources (and sunshine for vit d) is both more effective and safer. So personally I wold stick to supplementing those vitamins/minerals that we know Bariatric patients become deficient in. You can find this list and recommended amounts by googling "Bariatric association Vitamin guidelines" (for some reason I can't open safari while in bariatricpal app, otherwise I'd post a link!).

[RickM 1,752]

No OTC supplement does potassium well, as 3% of RDA is the legal limit in the US, so I guess they figure, "why bother?" Most multivits have that 3% in there so that they can all themselves "complete". The best non-prescription supplement that I have found for it is the low sodium variety of V8 juice (I guess they figure that it's harder to OD on V8!)

Vit K, while essential for us, is also a big influence on blood clotting, so possibly they figure that it may not be desirable for bariatric patients to take a lot of K (particularly if you are taking their vit pills pre-op) without specific direction from their surgeon. It plays havoc with blood thinners that some may be on, and many surgical instructions call for minimizing K before surgery.

Fish oil is great, but the horsepill sized capsules can be hard to manage for a while post-op until the inflammation in the stomach recedes.

[Inner Surfer Girl 12,015]

I take a D+K dot that I get from Drugstore.com. I can't remember the brand, but it is a Bariatric label.

I THINK there is potassium in my Multivitamin without me actually looking at it.

One thing my surgeon suggested was to take the Vitamin and supplement list to your pharmacist (when they aren't busy) and get them to help you find the Vitamins if you are having trouble figuring out which ones to use.

Since I shop on drugstore.com a lot, I was able to find everything with the search function.

Edited to add because I skimmed your question too quickly: I am required additional K (more than is in my regular multivitamin but not an additional potassium).

[Maggie Journey 126]

Everyone, thanks for your input. I want to be sure to get the supplementation right, because the very low calories post-op & lack of anti-oxidant foods (no fruits & very little veggies) are going to leave a big nutritional void without the best supplements. I want to learn everything. The main reason I currently take coq10 is because I have to take a statin drug, which depletes our bodies of natural coq10. I hate being on statins for high cholesterol, but it's one of my necessary evils until after I reverse my obesity-related health issues.

Fish oil is great, but the horsepill sized capsules can be hard to manage for a while post-op until the inflammation in the stomach recedes.

Rick,

I hate the horse sized pills even pre-op! I found a great small fish oil for Omega 3 that's very small and goes down easy. It's CVS brand "Half-the-Size Fish Oil", 1000 mg.

However, I'm not sure if bariatric patients are supposed to take it. I was taught in my pre-op nutrition class that we're not allowed to have softgels. I currently take softgels for my fish oil, Vitamin D and Vitamin E.

Is this pretty commonly taught for bariatric patients, no softgels are allowed? If so, why?

[Inner Surfer Girl 12,015]

I was sleeved and take soft gels (just my D3). I was just told no gummies.< /p>

[Bufflehead 6,358]

I don't take fish oil . . . the main "people" that fish oil has proven benefits for are supplement manufacturers, whose profits benefit.

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/03/30/fish-oil-claims-not-supported-by-research/

In fact, too much fish oil may be dangerous:

http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/fish-oil-friend-or-foe-201307126467

Plus, gross fish oil burps, no thank you.

[RickM 1,752]

However, I'm not sure if bariatric patients are supposed to take it. I was taught in my pre-op nutrition class that we're not allowed to have softgels. I currently take softgels for my fish oil, Vitamin D and Vitamin E.

Is this pretty commonly taught for bariatric patients, no softgels are allowed? If so, why?

I suspect that this is a holdover from RNY practice, as their stomachs don't work the same way as a normal stomach (or a sleeved one, for that matter, which is a lot closer to ":normal" than an RNY pouch,) I have had no problem with gelcaps and the like, and it was never brought up as being a problem in our education process, but then my doc doesn't do bypasses anymore.

[Kindle 8,667]

I take fish oil, D3, B12 sublingual (methylcobalamin, not cyanocobalamin), Calcium and a multi. Other than the B12, all of my Vitamins are whole food based, not chemically synthesized "bariatric" labelled. My multi contains Vitamin K. My Calcium also contains Vit D, magnesium and Vitamin K since they are synergistic and absorb better when taken together. I also take my multi with a tablespoon of Peanut Butter or coconut oil to help with the absorption of the fat soluble Vitamins.< /p>

I just had my gallbladder removed and my surgeon had me discontinue the fish oil and calcium/vitamin K a week before surgery because of their affect on bleeding/clotting. I was allowed to start them back up three days

A friend of mine ended up in the hospital with low potassium, but he had bypass, not VSG, so that's a whole other can of worms. I get my potassium level checked with my regular bloodwork twice/year.

Edited November 29, 2015 by Kindle