Weight Loss With Bariatric Advantage FAQ

Weight loss with Bariatric Advantage FAQ's

Should vitamins be taken with food? Generally, it is best to take vitamins with food.  This is not only because it is easier on the stomach, but also because we were designed to absorb nutrition from our food.  For this reason, almost all nutrients that we would put into a vitamin are better absorbed when taken with food.  This is sort of like tricking the body into thinking the vitamins are still in the food and not in a pill.  For some nutrients this makes a BIG difference.  For example, taken with food, vitamin E is 5 times better absorbed than when taken alone in a pill.  Another thing to keep in mind is that if we are talking about iron, it shouldn't be taken with a dairy (milk, cheese, yogurt, etc).  You can improve the absorption of iron if taken with some sort of meat or a vitamin C containing food such as fruit.

Will insurance pay for supplements? Will insurance pay for supplements? Unfortunately, the answer is usually no. Still sometimes people find that can get coverage with a specific written prescription from their doctor. Since vitamins are considered a requirement after gastric bypass and related procedures, many doctors are happy to write a prescription and let patients try to receive reimbursement. One can also look into medical savings accounts or "cafeteria plans" (ask your insurer or your bank), which may provide some tax relief.

Are liquid vitamins better absorbed? No. Liquid vitamin manufacturers sometimes make surprising claims for their products like “100% absorbable” – this is never true. You never absorb 100% of a nutrient. The things that makes the biggest difference in how well you will absorb a nutrient is how well it breaks down and whether the form itself is well-absorbed.

Should I take my vitamins with food? Most vitamins are actually best tolerated and better absorbed if taken with food. Some, like calcium citrate, can be taken either way.

Why are Vitamins A, E and D measured in IU rather than grams, mg, or mcg? Some vitamins – specifically A, E and D – are expressed as a unit of biological activity (IU, International Units), rather than as weight such as grams, milligrams or micrograms. Occasionally, it is helpful to know the weight of a nutrient expressed this way. Here are some of the common conversions: Vitamin A 1 IU = 0.3 mcg all-trans retinal = 0.3 mcg retinol = 0.344 mcg retinyl acetate = 0.55 mcg retinyl palmitate = 3.6 mcg Beta-Carotene 1 mcg Retinol = 3.34 IU of vitamin A activity 1 mg of all-trans Beta-Carotene = 1667 IU of Vitamin A activity 1 mcg Beta-Carotene = 1.67 IU of Vitamin A activity 1 mcg dietary Beta-Carotene = 0.167 mcg retinal Retinol Equivalents (RE) = the Vitamin A activity in foods 1 RE = 1 mcg all-trans retinal = 1 mcg retinal = 3.33 IU Retinol 1 RE = 6 mcg all-trans Beta-Carotene = 6 mcg Beta-Carotene 1 RE = 12 mcg other provitamin A carotenoids Vitamin E 1 IU = 0.67 mg of d-alpha-tocopherol or 0.45 dl-alpha-tocopherol 1 mg = 1.49 IU d-alpha-tocopherol (natural vitamin E; RRR-alpha-tocopherol) 1 mg = 1.10 dl-alpha-tocopherol (synthetic vitamin E; all-rac-alpha-tocopherol) Vitamin D 1 IU = 0.025 mcg of cholecalciferol (Vitamin D3) 1 mcg Vitamin D (cholecalciferol) = 40 IU