title: Gastric by-pass surgery in morbidly obese patients markedly decreases serum levels of vitamins A and C and iron in the peri-operative period.
abstract: We studied changes in serum levels of carotene, vitamins A, C, B12 and folate and iron in the immediate perioperative period after gastric by-pass surgery in nine morbidly obese patients and in six patients undergoing abdominal surgery. All parameters were measured preoperatively and 48 h postoperatively. Marked decreases occurred for vitamin A (2.04 +/- 0.45 mumol/l to 0.92 +/- 0.39 mumol/l, P less than 0.01), vitamin C (26 +/- 11.2 mumol/l to 4.9 +/- 4.0 mumol/l, P less than 0.01), iron (15 +/- 5.8 mumol/l to 4 +/- 2.7 mumol/l, P less than 0.01). A significant change also occurred for carotene (1.7 +/- 0.42 mumol/l to 1.25 +/- 0.48 mumol/l, P less than 0.05). No significant changes were seen for vitamins B12 and folate. Only changes in vitamins A and C were significantly greater in the morbidly obese patients compared to the control group of six patients. These changes likely represent redistribution of vitamins rather than enhanced urinary excretion.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000601:surgery*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D013270:Stomach / Q000601:surgery*; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood*; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D014801:Vitamin A; D002338:Carotenoids; D005492:Folic Acid; D007501:Iron; D014805:Vitamin B 12; D001205:Ascorbic Acid