Alarming article re multivitamin supplements

This was on MSN's "Enlightened Eater" today.
The author is a dietician (based in Toronto), and that dismays me a little:

Why you Might Want to Think Twice Before Taking Multivitamins
http://lifestyle.ca.msn.com/health-fitness/diet/why-you-may- want-to-think-twice-before-taking-multivitamins-or-supplemen ts

Of course there are many studies which supposedly show links between mortality and ingestion of this or that substance, but these two studeis actually seem to have some credibility.

Very interesting article.
I had a discussion about iron with my Hematologist. We did talk about the dangers of taking too much iron. I dislike taking oral iron as it can cause stomach discomfort and constipation issues. I had also tried Proferrin but it was expensive to take 3 per day.

Early this year I was considered to be anemic to the point of needing 2 iron infusions. The infusions brought my hemaglobin and ferritin back within normal range. Since last February I have not taken any supplemental iron above what is in my Bariatric Advantage Chewable Multi Vitamins and my levels are now staying within normal range.
I'm glad that we had the discussion or I might have continued to take oral iron that I did not need.

Linda

I also just read this article... it is very interesting.  I am not currently taking an iron supplement we will see after my 3 month follow-up Nov. 17th.

Hey Tanya Hijack.....love the new pic...you look great...I can see a huge difference!!!

One thing we need to be aware of is that this msn article is for the general public.  It is not for those that have surgery and thus are predisposed to have nutritional deficiencies.

With that said I have been on iron for years and I have to ask for it because it is behind the pharmicist's desk because people just assume they have low iron because they are tired and thus start taking it.

If you are eating a balance diet you do not ever need vitamins or supplements ever.  We're different and need those vitamins as no matter what are diets look like we aren't getting the same nutrients.

It's another reason for me to keep what I'm doing: to take my standard vitamin regime and to supplement further only based on bloodwork when needed.

Dawn

I have been wondering lately from the calories we eat are they all absorbed? So if we consume 1100 calories do we actually absorb all of those calories? And from that what percentage of vitamins are we absorbing.

No, at the stage you're at you are not absorbing all of the calories you're injesting - carbs likely yes, but fats no.  There is data to suggest that the malabsorption of RNY decreases greatly the longer out you are from surgery.  You will always, however, have malabsorption of vitamins which is why supplementation is so important.