Post by goodkel on Mar 22, 2014 17:20:33 GMT -5
(Cross posted on DS Data board.)
It is generally accepted that DSers absorb:
0% of plant fiber
20% of fat
50% of protein
60% of complex carbs
100% of simple carbs
Of these, you can only completely trust the figures for plant fiber and simple carbs.
Plant fiber is indigestible in humans. Simple carbs are absorbed immediately in the mouth. Bariatric surgery has no effect on these values.
Fat:
There is one mini study on DS fat malabsorption that used only 10 DSers as subjects. Not a large enough sample to be truly representative. To see where people have grabbed that 80% malabsorption figure, you need to pull up the chart and compare the Fat Calculated figure versus the Fecal Fat figure.
You can find the study and chart here
weightlosssurgery.proboards.com/thread/8884/fat-malabsorption
Protein:
It is possible to extrapolate protein deficiencies from decreased albumin levels. Protein is absorbed into the bloodstream through the villi that line the intestinal wall. The shorter time in contact with villi that our DS configurations allow is the source of our malabsorption of protein. That does not mean that everyone will malabsorb it at the same percentage or even at 50%. But, a high protein, low carb diet has been proven beneficial in weight loss for everyone.
Complex Carbs:
Complex carbs are starches and dietary fiber found in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Many of these foods contain large amounts of sugar (aka simple carbs). The 40% absorption is a completely arbitrary figure. Not only is there no scientific evidence supporting it, it varies widely depending on food. Eat corn, bananas, white bread and you may as well eat a fistful of sugar.
If you are wisely watching your carbs, your more accurate choice would be to rely on the glycemic index than some random percentage. Choose carbs coming from a low glycemic or whole grain source. If it gives you gas, you didn’t absorb it 100%. Bacteria is working on what is not absorbed and that is what gives you gas.
In Conclusion:
While I am not adverse to anecdotal evidence, most of us would be lost without it, my experience with the anecdotal evidence on this subject is that malabsorption is a highly individual matter. Factors such as common channel length and body chemistry play a role.
Only you can determine what your individual “ds math” is though your labs and your scale.
The DS Math is a cute parlor trick you can use to assist those who need to understand your surgery and have trouble wrapping their heads around the idea of malabsorption. It is for people who must be spoken to in calories, while we know that calories are not informative with the DS.
Do not rely on it to guide you in your eating.
It is generally accepted that DSers absorb:
0% of plant fiber
20% of fat
50% of protein
60% of complex carbs
100% of simple carbs
Of these, you can only completely trust the figures for plant fiber and simple carbs.
Plant fiber is indigestible in humans. Simple carbs are absorbed immediately in the mouth. Bariatric surgery has no effect on these values.
Fat:
There is one mini study on DS fat malabsorption that used only 10 DSers as subjects. Not a large enough sample to be truly representative. To see where people have grabbed that 80% malabsorption figure, you need to pull up the chart and compare the Fat Calculated figure versus the Fecal Fat figure.
You can find the study and chart here
weightlosssurgery.proboards.com/thread/8884/fat-malabsorption
Protein:
It is possible to extrapolate protein deficiencies from decreased albumin levels. Protein is absorbed into the bloodstream through the villi that line the intestinal wall. The shorter time in contact with villi that our DS configurations allow is the source of our malabsorption of protein. That does not mean that everyone will malabsorb it at the same percentage or even at 50%. But, a high protein, low carb diet has been proven beneficial in weight loss for everyone.
Complex Carbs:
Complex carbs are starches and dietary fiber found in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Many of these foods contain large amounts of sugar (aka simple carbs). The 40% absorption is a completely arbitrary figure. Not only is there no scientific evidence supporting it, it varies widely depending on food. Eat corn, bananas, white bread and you may as well eat a fistful of sugar.
If you are wisely watching your carbs, your more accurate choice would be to rely on the glycemic index than some random percentage. Choose carbs coming from a low glycemic or whole grain source. If it gives you gas, you didn’t absorb it 100%. Bacteria is working on what is not absorbed and that is what gives you gas.
In Conclusion:
While I am not adverse to anecdotal evidence, most of us would be lost without it, my experience with the anecdotal evidence on this subject is that malabsorption is a highly individual matter. Factors such as common channel length and body chemistry play a role.
Only you can determine what your individual “ds math” is though your labs and your scale.
The DS Math is a cute parlor trick you can use to assist those who need to understand your surgery and have trouble wrapping their heads around the idea of malabsorption. It is for people who must be spoken to in calories, while we know that calories are not informative with the DS.
Do not rely on it to guide you in your eating.
