title: Vitamin D deficiency before bariatric surgery: should supplement intake be routinely prescribed?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Before bariatric surgery, we demonstrate a 96% rate of vitamin D deficiency in morbidly obese French patients: should supplement intake be routinely prescribed? We conducted a prospective observational study to demonstrate the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in morbidly obese patients awaiting bariatric surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical and biological data were collected on 50 successive patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data showed vitamin D deficiency in 96% (25-OH vitamin D = 31 ± 13 nmol/l), with a cut-point of 50 nmol/l. Secondary hyperparathyroidism was found in 44% of patients with hypovitaminosis D (parathyroid hormone (PTH), 59 ± 24 pg/ml). Impaired PTH level concerned 89% of this group, considering the cut-point at 30 pg/ml. No significant correlation appeared between vitamin D and calcium or phosphate levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Before surgery, we demonstrated a higher incidence of vitamin D deficiency in morbidly obese French patients as compared to the general population. The incidence was also higher than previous American studies. Screening for hypovitaminosis D may routinely be considered in morbid obesity. Long-term observation is, however, needed to assess the advantages and potential side effects of systematic vitamin D supplements.
authors.affiliation: Service de Diabétologie-Endocrinologie-Nutrition, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Paris, France. roxane.ducloux@egp.aphp.fr
authors.forename: Roxane
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ducloux
authors.forename: Estelle
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nobécourt
authors.forename: Jean-Marc
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Chevallier
authors.forename: Hervé
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ducloux
authors.forename: Negib
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Elian
authors.forename: Jean-Jacques
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Altman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D050110:Bariatric Surgery; D015897:Comorbidity; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D006961:Hyperparathyroidism / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000097:blood; D011300:Preoperative Care; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D010281:Parathyroid Hormone