BARIATRIC FUSIONTM CHEWABLE ADVANCED
MULTI-VITAMIN/MINERAL FORMULA
Why Chewable?
A chewable tablet ensures the contents are broken apart in the mouth before swallowing making the nutrients more readily available to be absorbed once introduced into the rest of the digestive tract.
Why so many tablets?
Meeting needs in 4 tablets daily allows for adjustable dosing. Early post-op, taking 1 tablet 4 times per day avoids overloading the body with nutrients at one time, ensuring maximum absorption and utilization. Because the dosage is flexible, taking 2 tablets twice a day, a month or two post-op, can improve compliance and ensure nutrient needs are met for a lifetime.
What are the key nutrients and why are they important?
B-12- is essential to growth and cell reproduction, and the nervous system is dependent on vitamin B-12 for normal function. Vitamin B-12 is the most common nutritional deficiency after gastric bypass surgery and tends to be more neurological in nature, however, deficiency does affect red blood cell production as well. Bariatric Fusion contains 9,332 % DV of vitamin B-12. Although this seems like an excessive amount of this one micronutrient, after gastric bypass surgery, only approximately 10% of the available amount of vitamin B-12 is absorbed. The rest is eliminated and doesn't become toxic. The form of Vitamin B-12, methylcobalamin, used to formulate Bariatric Fusion, is the form of vitamin B-12 active and more readily available in the central nervous system making it more superior to other forms for the purpose of avoiding neurological deficiencies. It is also an active coenzyme of the vitamin B-12 analogs that is essential for cell growth and replication.
Calcium- is necessary to maintain bone strength and avoid osteoporosis. Calcium in the form of citrate is a large molecule. In order to get the full amount of calcium needed daily from a supplement, the tablet would be huge. Calcium carbonate is a smaller molecule but may not be as well-absorbed as calcium citrate in a post-gastric bypass stomach, with little gastric acid available. Most supplement companies on the market will either choose to use the less absorbable form or offer you an additional tablet to take along with your multivitamin, to be able to offer calcium citrate. Bariatric Fusion offers both forms of calcium in order to keep the tablet small, yet ensure you absorb more calcium than any other bariatric multivitamin/mineral supplement.
Biotin, a B-vitamin, plays a role in metabolism of the macro-nutrients; protein, carbohydrate, and fat. Biotin also promotes healthy skin, hair, and nails. Bariatric Fusion contains a greater amount of biotin than other supplements and may help prevent hair loss, a common concern of gastric bypass patients.
Vitamin D - is important for effective calcium absorption and ultilization. It also plays an important role in certain types of cancer prevention and depression management. Recent studies have shown a need for increased levels of vitamin D on a daily basis than previously recommended. Living in northern latitudes increases a person's need for Vitamin D because it is typically produced in the body as a result of UV rays exposure from sunshine. To meet these increased needs, supplementation is typically recommended. Bariatric Fusion contains 600 IU of vitamin D1specifically in the form of D3 from Cholecalciferol, which is easier on the liver than the D2 form.
Iron- aids in the body's ability to manufacture enough red blood cells to transport oxygen to all areas of the body. A deficiency in iron results in anemia. Bariatric Fusion uses a form of iron called ferrous fumarate, which is thought to be better absorbed and less constipating than other types of iron.
Questions/concerns related to the Bariatric Fusion formulation:
1) Form(s) of calcium used, citrate better than carbonate? (see above)
2) Is Iron and calcium absorbed when together in the same tablet?
Calcium can inhibit the absorption of iron in the body. The factors that affect iron absorption when iron and calcium are consumed together, whether as food or supplementation, are: 1) the form of iron, 2) the form of the food or supplement, and 3) the ratio of iron to calcium. The form of iron used in Bariatric Fusion is ferrous fumarate, which is readily available for absorption, as discussed above. The chewable form of this supplement ensures all the vitamins and minerals contained are in one of the most available forms for adequate absorption. And finally, the ratio of calcium to iron would need to be as high as 3 mg of calcium to .01 mg of iron to see an inhibitor effect of calcium on iron absorption. Bariatric Fusion only has a ratio of .4 mg of calcium to .01 mg or iron.
Just a note: The presence of vitamin C, ascorbic acid, in the supplement aids in iron absorption.
3) Is no Vitamin K an issue?
Vitamin K is not included in Bariatric Fusion to better manage patients on anti-coagulant therapy. Adult RDA for vitamin K is 120 mcg for males and 90 mcg for females. It is fairly easy to get enough vitamin K from a diet that includes just 3 ½ ounces of leafy greens or ½ cup of beans and a serving of peanut butter on a daily basis.
