Flintstones vs. Bariatric Vitamins - ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass Forum, Lap Band Forum, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum

Marella · 06-24-2008, 03:41 AM

I was asked to post this (from another thread) into it's own thread for possible further discussion.

Flintstones vs. Building Blocks Bariatric Chewable Vitamins
Vitamin Comparison Spreadsheet

Sorry for any typo's.. but WOW, it's a drastic difference!

I don't want to start a vitamin war... but I was curious. I'm still going to ask my NUT and Doc about it. I'm just concerned that all WLS'ers get what they need so that the numbers of health problems don't arise because of vitamin intake, or lack thereof. We need to succeed for the others who come after.

For me... I'm already a morbidly obese statistic... I don't want to be another negative one.

Godsblessedme · 06-24-2008, 10:03 AM

i have to thank you because it really concerns me when i hear people saying their doc is okay with them taking kids vitamins! it frankly bugs me alot! I dont care that their 1st blood work came back ok because i think that the next few bloodtests will show severe defiencies. Its like the flinstone vitamin folks should be taking like 5 day compared to our 2 a day vitamins i hope this opens someones eyes

'thann · 06-24-2008, 01:56 PM

I think it might be a better comparison if you doubled the numbers for Flintstones because everyone I know who take them (including myself) has to take two a day. The biggest difference, then, is the B vitamins -- and some minerals such as molybdenum, manganese, chromium, and magnesium. I don't know the actual value of those particular minerals.

I had my 6-week checkup last week and my nutritionist said I could start taking adult vitamins (she didn't mention "bariatric" vitamins at all), but said I could continue with two Flintstones if I preferred.

I'm not overly concerned. If my doctor says so, I will take a B supplement -- but everything else is pretty much in line.

'thann

Marella · 06-24-2008, 01:57 PM

I saw my NUT today and asked her about Flintstones.

She did a comparison with Centrum and found key certain vitamins lacking in Flintstones which is huge loss for WLS'ers.

What I'd like to know and what I can't find out, is the long-term effects of Flintstone takers vs. other, more potent vitamins, or those designed specially for bariatrics.

I don't remember WLS for Dummies giving name brands (I'm not at home right now so I can't check).

Again, I don't want to be in a vitamin war... but I'd be truly concerned as to this disparagement because, after all, we're bypassed malabsorption. Could a standard vitamin be enough when we're unique in our intake and absorption?

Marella · 06-24-2008, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'thann

I think it might be a better comparison if you doubled the numbers for Flintstones because everyone I know who take them (including myself) has to take two a day.

The comparison was fair because the vitamin dosage of the Building Blocks is also two a day... I'll make a note of that on the spreadsheet.

offstringgirl · 06-24-2008, 02:08 PM

My gosh!

I am at a loss for words. I take flintstones because that's what I was told to take, but I will have to tell my doctor! Are the bariatric vitamins chewable? My stomach won't let me take vitamin pills.

AND! I was told just to take 1/day! That's even half as much.

boomer · 06-24-2008, 02:16 PM

Thanks Marella,

I've been up and down about this vitamin thing. My doc says Flintstones (boy, they sure taste good...) and I'm going to ask again. I'll print out your comparison chart. Thanks for all that work! I'm a week away from hospital and have just started my mush/liquids and have started taking the Flintstones. I'll continue with it until I can get a good answer. I may just place an order for vitamins before I leave. Along with B12...I have the citrate chewables and will wait to see if I need extra iron. Jeez, what am I forgetting???

BTW Was yesterday your Birthday? If so...hope it was happy.

I tried to paste a nice birthday cupcake in here, but haven't figured out how to do it.

abbie717 · 06-24-2008, 02:17 PM

Is there a comparision of the Centrum Silver Chewables? This is great information. Thanks Marella.

Marella · 06-24-2008, 02:54 PM

Birthday: my husbands. I said he can have a piece, my son can have a piece, my dog can have a piece without the frosting, and I'll just look at a piece and have a fugdcicle.

Vitamins: We're told to trust our doctors and do what they recommend to do. My doc told me to trust my NUT because I am her job, and she knows better than he because that's her field... and I liked that response.

Centrum Silver: I'll see what I can find.

boomer · 06-24-2008, 03:22 PM

I've compared Bariatric Advantage, Building Blocks Multiple, Centrum Silver Chewables and Flintstones...I think Building Blocks Wins out.... comparing what our serving size would be...

I trided to copy the others here, but it just wouldn't work...but this is the highest I've seen of the four.

Building Blocks Multiple

Chewable
Supplemental Facts Serving Size: 2 Wafers

Amount Per Serving % Daily Value

Calories 10 Total carbohydrate 3 g 1%*
Dietary fiber 0 g 1 %* Sugars 0 g
Vitamin A (as retinyl palmitate and 50% from beta carotene) 10,000 IU 200%
Vitamin C (as ascorbic acid) 150 mg 250%
Vitamin D (as cholecalciferol) 800 mg 200%
Vitamin E (as dl-alpha-tocopheryl acetate) 60 IU 200%
Vitamin K (as phytonadione) 30 mcg 38%
Thiamin (as thiamin mononitrate) 12 mg 800%
Riboflavin 13.6 mg 800%
Niacin (as niacinamide) 40 mg 200%
Vitamin B6 (as pyridoxine HCl) 16 mg 800% Folate (as folic acid) 800 mcg 200%
Vitamin B12 (as cyanocobalamin) 250 mcg 4,167%

Biotin 600 mcg 200%
Pantothenic acid (as D-calcium pantothenate) 20 mg 200%
Phosphorus (as magnesium phosphate) 45 mg 5%
Iodine (from kelp) 75 mcg 50%
Magnesium (as magnesium phosphate) 200 mg 50%
Zinc (as zinc amino acid chelate) 15 mg 100%
Selenium (as selenium amino acid chelate) 70 mcg 100%
Copper (as copper amino acid chelate) 2 mg 100%
Manganese (as manganese amino acid chelate) 2 mg 100%
Chromium (as chromium dinicotinate glycinate) 240 mcg 200%
Molybdenum (as molybdenium amino acid chelate) 75 mcg 100%

I know this is a stupid question...but would some docs be concerned about too much of something and therefore suggest Flintstones? (told you it was a dumb question!)