Vitamins- AGAIN! (I know, I know but I swear these are new questions!)

Sorry for yet ANOTHER vitamin post but I can't help it!  I have spent the last 6 hours reading old posts, new posts, blogs, websites, etc to do my research about vitamins and am finding I still have a few questions.  Hell, I even made a spreadsheet!  :)  

From everything I am reading, it looks like most RNY-ers need the following bare bones: 
1500-2000 Calcium Citrate
B12 (1000 monthly shot or other daily form)
Multivitamin (200%/2x daily) containing 18mg iron, 400 mg folic acid, selenium, zinc

But additionally, they recommend:
Daily B Complex/B-50
50-100 MG Elemental Iron
400-2400 Vitamin D
1000-1500 Biotin
100,000-125,000 Vitamin A
400-1200 Vitamin E
50-100 Vitamin K

Does this look right?  My questions are as follows:

-In looking for a multivitamin, it seems many people take Centrum complete but it doesn't contain any selenium. Is this a huge deal?  If I take this, should I take selenium separately?

-In contrast, Centrum Chewables have selenium but no iron.  Should I supplement separately?

-Celebrate and Bariatric Advantage Vitamins don't have any Iron in them, despite what is  recommended.  A big deal?  Or is this because I'm supposed to take iron separately?

-Should I start all of the "additional" vitamins now?  Or should I wait until after my first labs are drawn (3 months for my doctor)?

- The Vita Lady recommended a TON of things in her starter package is it all necessary?  Her list for a 90 day supply was: 
(1) Vitalady Tender B Complex-55 Vegetarian Tablet 90 tab/btl
(1) Superior Source Vitamin B-1 (Thiamin) 100mg Sub-Lingual 100/bottle
(1) Superior Source Folic Acid (1200mcg) Sublingual Tablets 100ct/btl
(1) Vitalady Tender B-12 1,000mcg (Methylcobalamin) Sublingual Vegetarian Tablet 100 tab/btl
(1) Kirkland Vitamin C (1000mg) (swallowable) 500 tabs/btl
(2) Vitalady Tender Dry Vitamin D3-5 5,000IU 250 caps/btl
(1) Vitalady Tender Dry E-400 IU x 100 Capsule/bottle
(1) Country Life Vitamin K1 100mcg Tablet 100/btl
(4) Vitalady Tender Cal-Mag-D3, 240 Capsules
(2) Vitalady Tender Iron (25mg Carbonyl Iron) 400 tabs/btl
(2) Country Life Magnesium Citrate 250mg Tablet 120/btl
(1) Kirkland Multi-Vitamin Tablets (swallowable) 500 tabs/btl
(1) Puritan's Pride Zinc (Chelated-50mg) 250 tabs/btl ***August Sale 15% Off!
(1) RNY Starter Package Regimen

In regards to this list, can anyone help me figure out the following?
- Why the extra zinc? 
- Why B-1 and B Complex?
- Why extra folic acid?
- Why magnesium citrate?

I'd appreciate any suggestions/help you can give!  I know I need to take my vitamins seriously and now that I am 2 1/2 weeks out it's time to get on the ball!  

You guys rock and thanks in advance!

I was told to take GNC Solotron Chewable multi vitamins, they have everything you need but the Calcium D Citrate (I use UpCalD) and b-12 which I am going to do the shots.  I could have did other brand multivitamins but then I would have to add too many others.

Hope this helps.

Jenny

Wow, if you take all these you won't have to eat any food and you will be broke!  Crazy!!!

I like Bariatric Fusion vitamins, good tasting take 2 in the am and 2 in the pm.

Really, you'd need eight a day, not four.  The ASMBS says you need 200% of the RDA of most things but four of those only gives you 100% of many things.  So you'd need eight.

The ASMBS says you need 1500-2000 mg calcium citrate per day.  Four BF gives you only 1200 mg calcium - but it's not all citrate.  Some is calcium carbonate, which you won't absorb.  So you'd need extra calcium citrate but I dunno how  much 'cause they don't tell you how much they have.

You'd still need B12 because we can't absorb B12 we swallow because we lack intrinsic factor in our pouch.  You'd need a sublingual, or patch, or nasal spray, or shots.

I'm certainly not one to tell someone else they DON'T need a particular vitamin.  Personally, however, I would start with the basics and then let your labs and how you feel dictate what other vitamins you add.

The zinc is important for post-op healing.  I personally no longer take it (other than what is in the multi).

I did not see any Vitamin C on your list.  You will also probably need additional C in order to properly absorb the iron.  (Many iron tablets come with Vit C, but not enough, and, yes, you will amost certainly need a separate iron supplement.)

I personally use both the Centrum and Centrum silver since one has iron and the other has selenium. I do not take a B-complex or Vitamin E or folic acid.  (I have no idea why the extra beyond what is in the multi.)

Lora

Check out this thread on the Thinner Times forum. I believe the info originally appeared on OH.

http://www.thinnertimesforum.com/topic/35873-what-kind-of-problems-can-develop-from-not-taking-vitamins-daily/

Bare minimum is:
1500 Calcium Citrate
B12 sublingual
Complete Multivitamin

Iron - if your doctor suggests it.

the rest is a personal choice...What worked for me minimizing hair loss was a month before surgery I started taking 5000mg of Biotin daily and continue to do so today. 

You can get sucked into taking lots of stuff, but it really is not necessary...do what you bariatric team tells you to take without fail.  The rest is up to you.

Good luck,
Jackie

The ASMBS only recommends a multi (with iron, selenium, zinc, and folic acid), B12, Calcium Citrate w/Vit. D, and additional Iron.  Everything else is optional and to be taken if labs show deficiencies.  Most people (even non-WLS patients) tend to be Vit. D deficient, so adding Vit. D3 to your regimen would be beneficial.

Here is the link to the ASMBS document:

http://s3.amazonaws.com/publicASMBS/GuidelinesStatements/Gui delines/bgs_final.pdf