Comments on: Article on Vitamin B1 Deficiency

By: Dorsey Jenise

Dorsey Jenise — Sat, 25 Aug 2007 06:57:09 +0000

What’s “fine”? Many of the lab norms are to protect against brain and heart
damage, not to ensure health. For instance, B-12’s low normal is 210, but
the lowest HEALTHY level is 600, and some surgeons say 800. I keep mine over
1000.
No offense, but if I ate that stuff (oatmeal, Triscuits, etc.) not only
would I have completely hideous gas, but I’d gain weight too. How far out
are you?
Julia

By: Adrienne Jacque

Adrienne Jacque — Sat, 25 Aug 2007 04:19:06 +0000

I just had my blood work, with detailed B. I’m doing great. Everthing is high
normal, and all I do is take a Centrum Silver and eat lots of whole grain foods,
like oatmeal, Triscuits, etc. I specifically asked my PCP about my B’s, and she
did extra blood work and I am just fine. I had 150cm bypassed, if that helps,
done LAP. But, this is just me. Not everyone is the same.
Nona
Julia Ziobro Are you distal or proximal? I have well-researched documents for each, and
I’m happy to send them out. Just email me and let me know which surgery you’ve
had. Chances are good that if you don’t know, or if your surgery was done lap,
that you’re a proximal.
Julia
On 12/28/05, BARBARA HERNANDEZ I am new to all of this, so what suppliments are we supposed to
take….B-12, I know, but I never knew I had to take B1…can someone give

me a list of vitamins that they are taking to compare to what I would be
taking?
All I know at this point, is that I have to take in enough calcium, protein,
and B12…and other infor might help me…
Barbara

By: Dorsey Jenise

Dorsey Jenise — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 15:51:10 +0000

Are you distal or proximal? I have well-researched documents for each, and
I’m happy to send them out. Just email me and let me know which surgery
you’ve had. Chances are good that if you don’t know, or if your surgery was
done lap, that you’re a proximal.
Julia

By: lesa20

lesa20 — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 12:55:14 +0000

I was told we no longer have the portion of our intestine where B-12 for one
is absorbed and that’s why we need to supplement with sublingual or shot. I
don’t know about the other B vitamins - anyone know for sure for bypass
patients?
Thanks!

By: Adrienne Jacque

Adrienne Jacque — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 10:11:55 +0000

I read a similar one on WNEP.com. However, if we eat lots of whole grain foods,
like Cheerios, Kashi, Triscuits and the like, we shouldn’t have a problem with
our B’s at all.
Nona
hanovermomma I read the following article regarding the case study of a woman who
developed a vitamin B1 deficiency following WLS. I found the
article and several of her comments, specifically, the comment about
WLS being a “quick-fix” for obesity offensive. Also, the article
does not mention if the woman in the study was taking any of the
required supplements. I sent the writer an e-mail explaining the
decision to have WLS from an obese person’s point of view. I
encourage others to do the same. Obese people will continue to be
the outcasts of our society if we don’t start fighting back. I
never spoke up before my WLS, but now I feel the need to and I am

tired of defending my decision to have the surgery! Thanks for
letting me vent!
Gastric Bypass Surgery Can Lead To Vitamin B1 Deficiency
December 27, 2005 11:00 a.m. EST
Ayinde O. Chase - All Headline News Staff Writer
Washington DC (AHN) - According to a case study, vitamin B1
deficiency is a serious medical complication following a popular
quick-fix surgery to treat obesity. If untreated, vitamin B1
deficiency can lead to Wernicke encephalopathy, a severe
neurological condition.
In the longitudinal study, a 35-year-old woman was followed and
identified as developing many difficulties after undergoing gastric
bypass (bariatric) surgery for obesity.
The medical ailments encountered include nausea, anorexia, fatigue,
hearing loss, forgetfulness, and ataxia, or an inability to
coordinate muscle movements. Three months after the surgery, she had
lost 40 pounds and had difficulty walking and concentrating.
Heidi Schwarz, MD, says, “This case highlights the variability of
Wernicke encephalopathy where the classic trio of eye movement
abnormalities, confusion, and ataxia are seen in less than 20
percent of patients.”
An MRI scan showed abnormal signals in various parts of the woman’s
brain, indicating a deficiency in vitamin B1. Also known as
thiamine, vitamin B1 is essential for carbohydrate metabolism and
normal functioning of the nervous system.
Eleven days after her dose of vitamin B1 was increased, a follow-up
MRI scan showed signs of improvements and the abnormal signals had
decreased. The scan also showed spots in the pre-motor and motor
regions due to hemorrhaging, another sign of Wernicke
encephalopathy.