Gastric Bypass: Why You Need to Be Proactive About Nutritional Deficiencies After Surgery by Joy Stephenson-Laws JD

Did you know gastric bypass surgery – the most common type of weight loss surgery – can cause vitamin and mineral deficiencies? It makes sense when you think about it. The surgery changes how your stomach and intestine handle the food you eat, altering the natural absorption of nutrients. The most common deficiencies from gastric bypass surgery are:

• vitamin B12
• folate
• zinc
• iron
• copper
• calcium
• vitamin D

All of these which may lead to problems like osteoporosis, anemia and neurological issues. If you have an upcoming weight loss surgery or if you recently had surgery, be proactive and talk to your doctor about testing for nutritional deficiencies. Even if you start taking a multivitamin, testing is the only way to know whether your body has enough critical nutrients.

Enjoy your healthy life!