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Vitamin B12
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Why is Vitamin B12 important after bariatric surgery?
Vitamin B12
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Bariatric patients are at an increased risk of developing vitamin B12 deficiency because their digestive tracts have been altered. Bariatric surgery often involves gut manipulation that alters the natural absorption of nutrients so nutritional deficiencies can develop. Today we will focus on Vitamin B12
What does Vitamin B12 do?
Vitamin B12 helps keep the nervous system and blood cells healthy and prevents a type of anaemia called megaloblastic anaemia. In megaloblastic anaemia the red blood cells are bigger than they should be and there are fewer of them, so they do not carry oxygen around the body as well as they should.
What is Vitamin B12 deficiency?
Vitamin B12 deficiency is when your vitamin B12 levels are too low. Bariatric patients are at an increased risk of developing Vitamin B12 deficiency because their digestive tracts have been altered.
What are the symptoms of Vitamin B12 deficiency?
• Extreme tiredness (fatigue)
• Pins and needles
• Disturbed vision (stars floating in your vision)
• Sore tongue
• Mouth ulcers
• Cracks at the corner of the mouth
• Muscle weakness
• Memory loss or Brain fog
• Hearing sounds coming from inside the body, rather than from an outside source (tinnitus)
• Depression/ Low mood
Where do I get vitamin B12?
Vitamin B12 is only naturally found in animal products including fish, meat, poultry, eggs, milk, and milk products. Vitamin B12 is not generally present in plant foods, but many foods are fortified with B12 including breakfast cereals, soya drinks, and yeast extracts such as marmite.
Some medications can also reduce the absorption of vitamin B12 from the stomach e.g. the antidiabetic medicine metformin or omeprazole/lansoprazole.
How to improve Vitamin B12 levels after Bariatric surgery:
You will need lifelong treatment which may involve an initial loading dose where you have 3 injections of vitamin B12, 3 times a week for two weeks. You will then move on to vitamin B12 injections every 3 months. Some patients choose to take Vitamin B12 oral supplements however, injections are recommended.
Ensure you have your routine bloods checked and reviewed by your dietitian to reduce the risk of nutritional deficiencies.
To find out more about Vitamin B12 and my services, contact me.
