Vitamin question!

I just purchased a bottle of Centrum Under 50.

I am aware that it contains Iron, but my question is this- will I need to take additional iron as well, and if so, how many mg of it--and should I be taking two Centrum vitamins in one day, but each at separate times?

Also, I will still continue to take my B-12 sublingual, B Complex, Centrum under 50 (2), Calcium (3), Iron.  Am I missing anything ? Or does anyone have any suggestions to add?

RNY, 7 months post op, 30 yrs old.

You do need to take two of the Centrums.

How much iron is in it?  The ASMBS recommends a total of 54 to 63 mg daily for menstruating women and 36 mg daily for everyone else.  Most multis have about 18 mg, so that's enough for men and post-menopausal women.  Women that menstruate would still need more.

You probably also need D3.  Have you had your vitamin D level checked?

Thanks Kelly, I have not yet had my blood tests done yet, soon to be done though! I believe there is 18 mg in each Centrum. I will start taking D3 as you mentioned. I have been taking 1 pill of  Iron daily that I bought from Walmart that is 65 mg. Will I harm myself if I take a bit more than recommended ?

No, you won't harm yourself on that amount.  Many people need more than the amount suggested by the ASMBS anyway.

Actually, while we are talking, I'd like to ask you a few more questions about vitamins. I will list every pill I have bought and take daily, and I'd like your opinion.

1 time daily I take one Sundown Naturals B Complex 100% Recommended daily value.

1 time daily I take one Spring Valley 1,000 mcg Biotin.

1 time daily I take one Spring Valley  500 mcg B-12 sublingual dot.

1 time daily I take one Spring Valley  65 mg, equivalent to 325 mg Ferrous sulfate.

1 time daily I take 40 mg RX Prilosec.

2 times daily I take 1 Centrum under 50 multivitamin.

I have two different kinds of Calcium pills, not sure if either is what I should be taking.

I have a bottle of Caltrate calcium & Vitamin d3, chewables- 600+ D plus minerals.

Then I also have Spring valley (sugar free) Calcium soft chews with Vitamin D3.( 1 piece contains 1,000 I.U. of D3, 40 mcg Vitamin K, 500 mg calcium and 1mg  iron.

Your opinions please !

The B Complex is fine.

The biotin you probably don't really need, biotin deficiency is super rare, but it won't hurt you to take it.

The B12 is fine.

The iron is OK.  I prefer carbonyl iron to ferrous sulfate because it's less likely to cause constipation, but if what you're using isn't  making you constipated, then it's OK to keep using it.

Take your prilosec away from the iron because you  nee some stomach acid to absorb iron, especially ferrous sulfate.

Caltrate is calcium carbonate.  We need calcium citrate.  We can't absorb the carbonate because we don't have enough stomach acid to break it down for absorption.

What kind of calcium is in the Spring Valley calcium you have?

Kelly, the ingredients list says Calcium Carbonate! Which we can't break down, as you said. Can you give me a specific brand of Calcuim that I may be able to find at a nearby store such as Walmart, Meijer, Kroger, CVS ?

All those places will have a brand called Citracal.  Get the pills that are 630 mg per serving, which is two pills.  Or get the Citracal petites, which are 400 mg per serving, which is also two pills.  Or get the store brand calcium citrate, which is cheaper.

If you want chewable, you might find some at a Vitamin Shoppe.  Otherwise you'll have to order it online.

I will buy the Citrical petites. How many of these should I take daily, and should I split them apart throughout the day, and finally, should I avoid taking these with any other of my vitamins, such as Iron?

We need 1500 to 2000 mg a day and can only absorb about 500 mg at a time.  So eight to ten a day, two at a time, at least two hours apart. And two hours away from iron.  You can take them with your multi IF you don't care about absorbing the iron in it.  Since you're taking 65 mg iron separate from your multi, I'd take the multi with calcium if you want.