Vitamin and Mineral Supplementation for the Bariatric Patient: Why, What, When, and How?

Purpose: To enhance the vitamin and mineral supplementation knowledge base of all bariatric surgery care providers. Significance: Bariatric surgery patients require ongoing nutritional counseling during their weight loss surgery experience. It is not the sole responsibility of the dietician. A multidisciplinary approach is paramount. This article will discuss the common bariatric procedures performed in the U.S. and their respective vitamin and mineral deficiencies based on the surgical physiology. In addition, basic vitamin and mineral charts are provided that list basic information (why, what, when, and how) all bariatric care providers must be familiar in order to assure optimal preoperative and postoperative care.