title: Hypovitaminosis D and morbid obesity.
abstract: There is scarce and flawed data regarding vitamin D status in morbidly obese patients. More often than not, vitamin D deficits have been linked with bariatric surgery, not considering that the deficit may well precede surgery. Moreover, several pathophysiologic mechanism might explain, in part, vitamin D deficits. Conversely, the association between vitamin D deficits and secondary hyperparathyroidism in morbidly obese patients has been reported before and after bariatric surgery. Taking into account the elevated prevalence of vitamin D deficits in morbidly obese patients, its associated comorbidity, and the efficacy and low cost of its treatment to restore normal serum values of 25-OH-vitamin D, it seems advisable to recommend routine monitoring of serum calcium, phosphorus, and 25-OH-vitamin D levels in morbidly obese patients and to implement calcium and vitamin D supplementation whenever necessary.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Endocrinología y Nutrición, Hospital de Sant Pau, Mas Casanovas 90, Barcelona 08041, Spain. juanybarra@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ybarra
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Hernández
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pérez
mesh_terms: D050110:Bariatric Surgery; D002118:Calcium; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D006801:Humans; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000451:nursing* / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D014807:Vitamin D; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D; D002118:Calcium