How long do your vitamins last?

Our lot number and manufacture date is stamped on the label of each of our supplements. Vita4Life supplements have a shelf life of two years from the date of production.

What does Biotin do?

Biotin is a member of the B-vitamin family and it plays a key role in the metabolism of proteins, fats and carbohydrates.

Can B12 be chewed and why does your Sublingual B-12 take several minutes to dissolve?

Vitamin B12 is very dependent on the stomach and an intact digestive tract for digestion and absorption. When B12 is swallowed, it isn’t uncommon for less than 5% to be absorbed post-surgery. To absorb B12 under the tongue, it needs to stay under the tongue for several minutes. We purposely designed our Sublingual B12 to dissolve slowly to maximize absorption.

Can I open the capsules?

Any of the capsules can be opened and mixed in to soft food. Clients should be aware that products designed to be swallowed in capsules are not sweetened or flavored, thus you may find the flavor to be a little unpleasant. You can mask some of this flavor in a soft food. Low sugar apple sauce or yogurts are popular choices.

Do I need Sublingual B-12 if I am taking your Multivitamin?

Our multivitamin provides you with comprehensive B-complex; however, some people require more B-12 depending on their surgery type or daily dosage. Your doctor or surgeon should be able to tell you if they want you to take an additional B-complex.

What is the most calcium I can take at one time?

It is ideal to limit calcium intake to 500 milligrams at a time. Taking more than that in one sitting is wasteful since the body can only absorb 500 milligrams of calcium every few hours.

How are calcium citrate and carbonate different?

Calcium citrate and calcium carbonate are both calcium, but are bound to different compounds. Calcium carbonate is the most common form of calcium in supplements today, and it requires stomach acids to be properly digested and absorbed. Therefore, it is not the optimal choice for bariatric patients. Calcium citrate requires little to no stomach acid to digest and for that reason it remains the optimal form of calcium for patients.

Will insurance pay for my Vita4Life! supplements?

The answer is unfortunately usually no. Some people find that can get coverage with a written letter from their doctor or surgeon. Since vitamins are considered a health requirement after bariatric procedures, most doctors or surgeons are happy to write a prescription and let patients attempt to receive reimbursement. You can also look into medical savings accounts or cafeteria plans which may provide some tax relief. You can ask your medical insurer for more information related to this topic. Good luck!

Is there gluten in Vita4Life! supplements?

Gluten is a special type of protein that is commonly found in rye, wheat, and barley and can be an allergen (sometimes fatal) in some people. All of our vitamins are wheat and gluten free.

Why am I losing my hair?

There are many reasons why people lose hair. Some reasons are nutritional and some are not. If you’ve recently had surgery, you may be experiencing telogen effluvium. Telogen effluvium is a condition which occurs when you experience some type of shock to your system, either emotional or physical. This causes hair roots to be pushed prematurely into the resting state. Hair loss isn't permanent and hair typically grows back once the condition that caused it corrects itself, but it usually takes months.

Should I take my vitamins with food?

Most vitamins are better tolerated and absorbed if taken with food. We recommend our multivitamin be taken with food. Our calcium citrate and sublingual B-12 can be taken with or without food.

Why do I have to take so many capsules?

Better forms of vitamins and minerals take up more space. Calcium citrate for example takes up two to three times more space than calcium carbonate. Trust us, if we could fit everything necessary to keep you healthy into one or two capsules, we would.

How do you ship your products?

We use the USPS priority mail system to ship our products. We offer an express delivery option; however, you will need to call us to have us place your order for you to take advantage of this option. It is less expensive and less stressful to order a week before your vitamin supply expires. We offer an automatic reorder system that can be set up in your account settings. Please call us if you require assistance or more information regarding this feature.