Vitamin and trace mineral levels after laparoscopic gastric bypass.
BACKGROUND
Nutritional deficiencies are a concern after any bariatric surgery procedure. Restriction of oral intake and/or decreased absorption may cause vitamin abnormalities. Prevention of these vitamin deficiencies includes both supplementation and routine measuring of serum values. An investigation was undertaken to examine preoperative and short-term (1-year) postoperative levels of vitamins/trace minerals in patients undergoing laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGBP).


METHODS
Serum preoperative and postoperative vitamin/trace element levels of LRYGBP patients were recorded in a retrospective chart review (n = 100). Unavailable and undrawn levels were not included in the results.


RESULTS
Preoperative and 1-year postoperative percentage of abnormal levels were: vitamin A 11% and 17%, vitamin B(12) 13% and 3%, vitamin D-25 40% and 21%, zinc 30% and 36%, iron 16% and 6%, ferritin 9% and 3%, selenium 58% and 3%, and folate 6% and 11%.


CONCLUSIONS
Abnormal vitamin and trace mineral values are common both preoperatively and postoperatively in a bariatric surgery patient population. Routine evaluation of serum levels should be performed in this specific patient population.
Madan
Atul K
AK
Section of Minimally Invasive Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Tennessee Health Science Center and Weight Management Center, Methodist University Hospital, 956 Court Avenue, Memphis, TN 38163, USA. amadan@utmem.edu
Orth
Whitney S
WS
Tichansky
David S
DS
Ternovits
Craig A
CA