Calcium After Bariatric Surgery - your questions answered
Calcium After Bariatric Surgery - your questions answered
by Nicole Freebairn, Registered Nutritionist
We’ve had an increasing number of enquiries lately about calcium supplements after bariatric surgery. Questions like:
Do I need to take calcium supplements for life?
What if my calcium levels look “normal” on a blood test - does that mean I don’t need them?
And how can I best support my bone density after surgery?
These are great questions, and they’re ones we hear often. Let’s break them down.
Do I need calcium supplements long term?
Yes - calcium supplementation is a lifelong requirement after bariatric surgery. That’s because your body’s ability to absorb calcium changes permanently. Even if you eat a variety of calcium-rich foods, such as dairy products, additional supplementation is still required. Without consistent supplementation, you’re at higher risk of calcium deficiency, osteoporosis, and fractures over time.
My calcium levels look normal in a blood test - do I still need supplements?
This may be a little confusing, but - a “normal” calcium result on a blood test doesn’t actually mean your calcium status is fine. Why? Because your body tightly regulates blood calcium levels. If you’re not getting enough calcium through diet (food and supplements), your body will pull it out of your bones to keep blood levels stable. This means you could have normal blood calcium but still be losing bone density in the background.
This is why long-term supplementation and monitoring are essential. When we check bariatric bloods, we also check a couple of other markers which give us a more accurate indication of calcium status.
How do I support my bone density?
Bone health after bariatric surgery comes down to a few key factors:
Adequate calcium (from both food and supplements)
Sufficient vitamin D to help absorb calcium
Vitamin K2 to help direct calcium into bones (not arteries or soft tissues)
Consistent movement and resistance exercise to help keep bones strong
Regular blood tests and, when appropriate, bone density scans
Let’s look at what the guidelines recommend and how we put that into practice.
How much calcium do you need?
The most recent international guidelines for bariatric surgery recommend between 1200-1500 mg of calcium from supplements per day after a Sleeve Gastrectomy or Gastric Bypass operation.
Tailor Clinic’s Updated Recommendations
In light of this, we now generally recommend 3 x Tric Calcium capsules per day or 3 x Celebrate Soft Chews (each capsule or chew providing 500 mg of calcium, so 1500mg per day).
These capsules now also contain vitamin K2, which acts like a traffic controller - helping calcium get to your bones and teeth (where you want it).
The role of vitamin D
Calcium can’t do its job without vitamin D. Vitamin D supports calcium absorption, which is why we monitor and supplement both together.
Vitamin D3 is the preferred form.
A daily maintenance dose is included in Tric calcium and multivitamin supplements.
Some people may require additional supplementation if indicated in blood results, which is why it’s important to regularly monitor.
Practical Tips for Taking Calcium
Split doses - your body can only absorb 500–600 mg at a time.
Calcium citrate is the best absorbed form and can be taken with or without food.
Calcium carbonate should be taken with meals to help with absorption.
Multivitamins aren’t enough - they do not contain calcium.
Separate from iron - by at least 2 hours as these nutrients compete for absorption
Food Sources of Calcium
Alongside supplements, aim to include calcium-rich foods daily:
Dairy (calci-trim milk, Greek yogurt, lower fat cheese)
Fortified plant milks
Tofu
Leafy greens
Canned salmon or sardines with bones
Important Note
As always, everyone is different and there are certain situations where calcium recommendations may differ from the above guidelines. It is always important to be guided by an experienced health professional that is familiar with interpreting bariatric blood results.
If you’re unsure whether your current supplement routine is right for you, or if it’s time to check in on your bloods, we recommend booking a blood review with one of our nutritionists. Contact our reception team to book your appointment.
Flick us an email at reception@tailorclinics.co.nz
Disclaimer: this blog post is intended for educational purposes only and does not replace individual medical advice. For more support please always seek the guidance of your relevant health practitioners.