Dietary minerals are chemical elements in the form of ions that are required by living organisms for survival. The best way of supplying the body with the necessary amounts of dietary minerals is through a proper diet. Nutritionists have identified seventeen essential minerals required for human biochemical processes and for functioning as electrolytes. These include calcium for building bones, iodine for synthesis of thyroxin, copper is a component of redox enzymes, magnesium is required for bone formation, phosphorous is used for energy processing, potassium is a systemic electrolyte, selenium is useful for the working of antioxidants, etc.

Calcium

Low calcium intake is considered a contributing factor to obesity and associated co-morbidities such as hypertension. Insulin Resistance Syndrome has been hypothesized to develop as a result of low calcium intake. A healthy calcium intake facilitates the excretion of fecal fat and may help increase core body temperature.

Vitamin Supplements and Medications

We strongly encourage a healthy balance diet after bariatric surgery. Even with a balanced diet, it is difficult to consume enough variety to ensure that you are meeting all of the recommended amounts of each vitamin regularly.

Iron

The importance of iron in human metabolism

Iron is important for human life. It is found in every cell of the human body. Iron is essential to manufacture hemoglobin found in the red blood cells and myoglobin found in muscles. These two are oxygen-carrying proteins. Hemoglobin carries oxygen from the lungs to different parts of the body.

Osteoarthritis

Obesity is strongly associated with osteoarthritis, and in particular a dose dependent relationship has been found to exist between BMI and risk of developing osteoarthritis of the knees. Excessive osteoarthritis of otherwise healthy joints is known to contribute towards osteoarthritis, but obesity is also a risk factor for developing osteoarthritis in non-weight-bearing joints, and current research indicates a more complex relationship exists between osteoarthritis and obesity than can be explained by biomechanical stress alone.

Sleeve

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy is a restrictive procedure that reduces the size of the stomach but does not alter the gastrointestinal tract or the pylorus. Because the route of ingested food through the gastrointestinal tract is not altered, nutrients are better absorbed. The patient is less dependent on vitamin supplements as the food is absorbed in a more natural manner.