Postoperative vitamin deficiencies in patients undergoing laparoscopic roux‐en‐y gastric bypass

Abstract

BACKGROUNDNutritional abnormalities are common in severely obese patients and can be worsened following laparoscopic Roux‐en‐Y Gastric Bypass (LRYGB). This study aimed to determine the relationship between postoperative vitamin B12, folate and iron deficiency to LRYGB outcomes.METHODS630 patients underwent LRYGB by three surgeons at a single academic institution. Patient records were reviewed for vitamin levels, weight loss, and cardiac risk factors postoperatively.RESULTSOverall patient demographics were: mean age 44.4 years, mean BMI 46.3, and 89% female. At 3, 6 and 12 months postoperative, 0.2, 1.2 and 1.6% had Vitamin B12 deficiency; 0.3, 0.7 and 0% had folate deficiency; and 11.3, 4.5, and 7.3% had iron deficiency, respectively. Men had higher rates than women of vitamin deficiencies at all time points (p<0.001). Patients who had a known deficiency at 3 months had significantly higher weights preoperative (278lbs vs 311lbs, p<0.001), at 3 months (227lbs vs 254lbs, p=0.01) and at 12 months (185lbs vs 208lbs, p=0.01).CONCLUSIONSMale patients and patients with higher preoperative weight should be monitored closely for nutritional deficiencies following LRYGB.Grant Funding Source: NIH Clinical and Translational Science Award