Posts belonging to Category 'Bariatric Iron'

Bariatric Vitamins: Check out Your Skin

After gastric bypass surgery it is very common to have a shortage of vitamins and minerals unless you are taking the right kind of bariatric supplements. There are a lot of different ways vitamin deficiency can affect your body–your skin being one of the most obvious and sometimes most drastic.

Slow Wound Healing and Zinc

If you have any cuts or wounds, you may notice that they are healing slower than they were before bariatric surgery. This is often due to zinc deficiency. An adequate amount of zinc in your supplements should help your wounds heal more quickly.

Zinc is a mineral and has many functions.  It is present in every part of your body. Many of your digestive enzymes depend on it to be able to properly function. You’re also more prone to infection if you don’t get enough of it. Finally, your skin needs zinc in order to maintain its health.

Psoriasis, Scaliness, and Flakiness: Take your Vitamin A

Developing dry skin can be a common problem with bariatric patients. If you notice your skin having a sandpaper feel and becoming flaky you may have an insufficient amount of Vitamin A. Scaliness and psoriasis can also be aggravated because of a deficiency of biotin. Biotin and Vitamin A have been shown to significantly reduce symptoms.

Bruising and Swelling: Vitamins C and K

Perhaps you have noticed more black and blue marks on your skin. Bruises are a sign of your skin bleeding. The vitamins that help this symptom are Vitamins C and K. If your skin becomes swollen and dark you may need a supplement with Niacin.

Skin Color: Carotene, Iron, and Folic Acid

There are several symptoms that you might notice regarding the color of your skin. If your skin has a yellowish tone this may be a sign of excess carotene. Unlikely as it may sound it can also be caused by a deficiency in carotene.

If at times you have noticed a flushing of your skin you may have a need for additional Niacin. If the opposite occurs and you have paleness (or pallor) of your skin this may be caused by a lack or iron and folic acid.

Bariatric Supplements can Help Bring Your Skin Back to Life

Lucky for weight loss surgery patients (and all the rest of you) these skin problems can be improved with something as simple as taking your vitamins and supplements. Your mom probably told you, “don’t forget to take your vitamins” – and we all know mom knows best!

As many as two-thirds of weight loss surgery patients experience anemia. This is a simple red blood cell deficiency brought on by lack of iron–something normally counteracted by taking the kind of bariatric vitamins that are easily absorbed into the bloodstream.   

Anemia is commonly thought to be caused by an iron deficiency. In gastric bypass patients, this is half-true: the root cause often lies with the post-surgery small intestine’s absorption capability. The new, shortened intestine doesn’t have as much of its own material to work with, which often puts patients at risk for nutritional deficiencies. Post bariatric patients typically need lifetime bariatric supplements to avoid anemia. 

Anemia Symptoms

Each individual may experience symptoms of anemia differently. Indications and symptoms of anemia vary depending on the cause, but may include:

• Easily fatigued and loss of energy 
• Pale skin
• An unusually fast or irregular heartbeat, particularly with exercise
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Dizziness
• Cognitive problems and difficulty concentrating
• Cold hands and feet
• Headache
• Leg cramps
• Insomnia
• Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
• Pale lips and gums
• Soreness of the mouth with cracks in the corners
• Abnormal menstruation (either absence of periods or increased bleeding) 

Unusual Anemia Symptoms

Many people with iron deficiency anemia have an odd symptom called pica. This is the habit of craving and eating or chewing unusual substances. These bizarre materials can include ice, cornstarch, paper, and even clay! The word pica comes from the Latin word for magpie, a bird known for its large and indiscriminate appetite.  

An additional and unusual anemia symptom is koilonychias. Simply put, this condition creates spoon-shaped fingernails and toenails. This abnormal curving of nails is often coupled with extreme nail thinness. 

Pernicious Anemia

Pernicious anemia is another type of anemia that the post-bypass patient must guard against. This is a condition in which the body cannot make enough healthy red blood cells because it doesn’t have enough vitamin B-12. People who have pernicious anemia can’t absorb enough vitamin B-12 from food because of a lack of intrinsic factor, a protein made in the stomach.  

Symptoms of Pernicious Anemia may include: 

• Confusion
• Dementia
• Depression
• Hallucinations
• Memory loss
• Loss of balance
• Nausea
• Heartburn
• Tingling in the hands or feet
• Loss of sense of touch  

Bariatric Vitamins and Supplements for Anemia Prevention

Because of bariatric patient’s unique absorption needs, anemia can be an ongoing concern. Fortunately, the solution is a surprisingly easy one in most cases. Daily intake of bariatric iron supplements and bariatric B-12 supplements are an easy solution for helping to prevent and eliminate anemia and its accompanying symptoms.  Just make sure you get vitamins that dissolve properly and have no fillers!