Many bariatric
surgeons are prescribing 100mg of
vitamin B-1 (also
called thiamine) daily for the first four weeks after bariatric surgery to
prevent a deficiency, which is often caused by nausea vomiting.
Dr. Stephen
Boyce shares his expertise and findings from his bariatric practice,
The New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery, “My clinical experience tells me that
patients who are deficient in
thiamine are
the patients who experience the worst nausea and vomiting after surgery. In my practice, as a precautionary measure, I
prescribe an additional supplement of 100mg of
thiamine
daily for one month after surgery to all of my patients.”
Vitamin B-1
is an essential nutrient and is one of the B complex vitamins that is water
soluble.
Thiamine
helps to convert carbohydrates into glucose, which is used to produce
energy. It helps to metabolize protein
and fats as well as support the nervous system and promote good brain health. It is sometimes referred to as an
“anti-stress” vitamin because it is thought to strengthen the immune system and
improve the body’s ability to handle stressful conditions.
Dietary sources
include, beef, brewer’s yeast, nuts, milk, legumes, pork, rice, seeds oranges,
wheat and whole grain cereals.
Dr. Boyce
explains the importance of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric
Surgery thiamine recommendations and why patients sometimes need more thiamine
than the recommendations: "The ASMBS recommends 3mg daily for weight loss
surgery patients. What patients must
understand is that these recommendations are to prevent deficiencies and may
not be enough if the patient is already deficient. There are no reported
adverse effects from consuming excess thiamine from food and supplements. Most of my colleagues agree that adding a B-1
supplement as a standard protocol after surgery is in the best interest of the
patient. Once the patient’s thiamine
levels are normal then we recommend at least 3mg daily for maintenance.”
Very little B-1
is stored in the body and deficiencies can develop quickly in the bariatric
patient.
Thiamine
deficiency is quite common in gastric bypass patients due to impaired
absorption and decreased acidification of food. Symptoms of deficiency include
fatigue, irritability, depression and abdominal discomfort. It can cause problems with digesting
carbohydrates which allows a substance called pyruvic acid to build up in the
blood causing a loss in mental alertness, difficulty in breathing and even
heart damage. (A disease called Beriberi).
Bari Life
Bariatric Supplements offers a 30 count (one month supply), 100mg tablet of
B-1. Additionally, all of the Bari Life
multivitamin formulas contain 6mg of B-1 for daily maintenance.
About Dr.
Stephen G. Boyce:
Dr. Stephen
Boyce obtained his Bachelor of Science and Masters of Science from Texas
A&M University, College Station, before beginning medical school in Dallas,
Texas at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School where he received
his medical degree. Surgical Residency was performed at Parkland Memorial
Hospital in Dallas where he completed his general surgery training and was
introduced to weight loss surgery under the tutelage of Dr. Otto Wilbanks, a
pioneering father of weight loss surgical procedures.
With more than
24 years of experience performing bariatric surgeries, Dr. Boyce has completed
over 4,000 weight loss surgical procedures, has special training in advanced
laparoscopic surgery and has also completed a Masters Certification in
Bariatric Surgery. He started his own practice the
New Life Center forBariatric Surgery in Knoxville, Tennessee in 2002, which shortly after became
one of the Nation's first Centers of Excellence (7th in the Nation) in 2005.
He is the
Medical Director of the Tennova Center for Surgical Weight Loss in Knoxville,
TN. His special interest in bariatric
nutrition led him to develop Bari Life Bariatric Supplements, specializing in
custom multivitamin formulas for the weight loss surgery patient. Additionally, he is an active educator for
Ethicon-Endo Surgery and he was the first physician to be awarded by the
Obesity Action Coalition (OAC), "Outstanding Membership Recruitment by a Physician
Award.”
