| A common claim from gastric bypass detractors is | | | | centers undergo blood tests to screen for nutritional |
| that after surgery patients can never be nutritionally | | | | health. Most patients meet with a nutritionist to assess |
| healthy and they must take daily vitamin supplements | | | | vitamin and mineral needs and make adjustments for |
| just to survive. | | | | better health. Gastric bypass patients are on top of the |
| It is a mistaken notion that weight loss surgery patients | | | | nutritional game when they follow the program. |
| cannot lead a nutritionally sound life. The assumption is | | | | Bariatric patients who desire optimum health and |
| due to the restrictive and malabsorptive nature of the | | | | nutrition will take dietary supplements daily. Combined |
| surgery it is impossible to eat a nutritionally sound diet. | | | | with wise healthful food choices they can meet their |
| However, when healthy food choices are combined | | | | body's nutritional needs. |
| with a solid vitamin and mineral supplement program | | | | The Food and Drug Administration considers vitamins, |
| bariatric patients do enjoy sound nutritional health. In | | | | minerals, herbals and botanicals, animal extracts, amino |
| fact, after surgery, most weight loss patients are more | | | | acids, proteins, concentrates, and teas dietary |
| nutritionally healthy than before surgery. | | | | supplements. The FDA governs the labeling and intake |
| Furthermore, evidence suggests most Americans | | | | recommendations for dietary supplements. The |
| should take vitamin and mineral supplements to ensure | | | | following are FDA terms for describing dietary and |
| nutritional wellness. In the 2005 Dietary Guidelines | | | | nutritional needs: |
| published jointly by the Department of Agriculture and | | | | DVs: Daily Values - Daily values are two sets of |
| Department of Health & Human Services the | | | | references: DRV's and RDIs. |
| government concedes that dietary supplements are a | | | | DRVs: Daily Reference Values - a set of dietary |
| useful source of nutrients when nutritional needs are | | | | references that applies to fat, saturated fat, |
| not being met through diet. | | | | cholesterol, carbohydrate, protein, fiber, sodium, and |
| Here's the quote: "A basic premise of the Dietary | | | | potassium |
| Guidelines is that nutrient needs should be met primarily | | | | RDIs: Reference Daily Intakes - a set of dietary |
| through consuming foods. . . In certain cases, fortified | | | | references based on the Recommended Dietary |
| foods and dietary supplements may be useful sources | | | | Allowances for essential vitamins and minerals and, in |
| of one or more nutrients that otherwise might be | | | | selected groups, protein. RDI's are essential to our |
| consumed in less than recommended amounts." | | | | health. |
| In most cases Americans, even those criticizing gastric | | | | RDAs: Recommended Dietary Allowances - a set of |
| bypass, don't meet their RDI of vitamins. Furthermore, | | | | estimated nutrient allowances required daily to maintain |
| most Americans do not know the specific guidelines | | | | good health - established by the National Academy of |
| are for vitamin and mineral intake. Even more alarming, | | | | Sciences. It is updated periodically to reflect current |
| because Americans do not consistently have annual | | | | scientific knowledge. RDA's set the minimum intakes of |
| check-ups and blood work, many do not know the | | | | vitamins and minerals and protein needed for the |
| state of their nutritional health. | | | | average person to stay healthy. |
| WLS patients who return annually to their bariatric | | | | |