Vitamins

So I went to walmart today to look for some new  multi vitamns and some vitamin D. I got to the section and got completely over whelmed. Is womens one a day a good one? Also there were a million types of vitamin d. What would be a good one for me to get. Also how much vitamn D would I need to take? Sorry I know I have alot of questions but I did read the ASMBS guildlines and definately feel that the childrens multi vitamn and viactiv chew my surgeon told me to take are not right. But I get a little over whelmed with all the vitaimins they list on the ASMBS there and all the different doses that I am a little confused.

When I looked at the women's One a Day a couple of years ago, it did not have a lot of the things we need or enough of several things. The Centrum chewables (available in regulate and "silver"/over 50 versions) -- or even generic versions -- are a good choice.  You will need two per day.

How  much Vit D you need is going to depend a lot on your own body and your labs.  Many of us take 50,000 units one or more times per week.  You need a DRY version of Vit D not an oil version since we malabsorb oil/fat. You can start with a few thousand units a day and then see what your labs say.

Lora

Thanks so much!

I  take 2 Gummy Flintstone Vitamins daily - I have had a couple blood tests since surgery and my levels are perfect. I love the Flintstones for one they are yummy and 2 I like to see who I get every day - yes I am strange like that - lol.

I also take 2 Vitamin D3 1000 IU daily, but I also have low Vitamin D - That may be something you want to check with your doctor about.

I wrote a blog post showing what I take each day you can look at HERE. But every surgeon has different requirements and yes when you go to the store u can lose your mind - there is just so much on those shelves.

those gummies are missing LOTS of stuff we need.  When you had labs done, what was zinc level?  Copper?  Selenium?

Also, 2000 IU d3 is a very, very low dose for someone after RNY.  I've never known anyone that could maintain a good vitamin D level on less than 5000 IU D3 a day - most need 10,000 IU a day or more.

Ya know I will have to go back and look at all my levels. According to the doctor all was fine. As far as the Vitamin D levels go - I did take more at one point and now maintain - last check my levels were all normal on this amount  I take daily and within range.

I will take ur advice and see about having another bloodwork up done to make sure I am still good - now u have me nervous - lol

Thanks for you advice and heads upon this I appreciate it!!!

And your levels might all be fine.  But many docs don't bother checking things like copper and selenium unless you specifically ask them to, which I would definitely do if I was taking a vitamin without any of those things in it.  As far as vitamin D, being in the reference range that the labs use doesn't necessarily mean your level is good - the reference range is NOT the level needed for optimum health but just an average of what a group of volunteer subjects tested at.  For instance, most labs use a reference range of something like 30 - 80 or maybe 30 - 100 for vitamin D, but research shows we need our vitamin D levels to be at least 80, otherwise we're at increased risk for things like osteoporosis, heart disease and some types of cancer.  I can post links to some information on that if you'd like to check it out.

You are deficient and you only take 2000 IU daily?   I have to take 50,000 per week AT LEAST just to maintain my Vit D3 level ...    You are never going to do anything with your levels on 2000 per day - that is what most normies would be recommended!  

5-10,000 per day is probably the minimum for an RNY person to get their level up - I actually took 50,000 iu per day for 8 weeks to get an acceptable level ...

If you don't like to get recommendations from here - and your levels are still low when you are next checked - maybe you could have a talk with your doctor about a more comprehensive regimen designed for someone with malabsorption?

Thanks for the advice Sin Kim - I did the high amounts via prescription to bring my levels up when they were very low and as of my last blood work I am within range. As I stated in my response above I will be looking into this now and possible have another work up done sooner just to be sure.

Thanks for your response!! xoxo

Go with Centrum or a generic equivalent.  The store brand should be on the shelf right next to the Centrum and you can just compare the labels.

For vitamin D, what was your vitamin d level?  Most post ops need at least 10,000 IU D3 a day, but many need more than that - I take 50,000 IU D3 three times a week to keep my level around 100 (the Linus Pauling Institute says it  needs to be at least 80).

Did you get some calcium citrate?