Complications and Nutrient Deficiencies after Bariatric Surgery: A general review
Author(s):
Hamed R Takruri*, Seham M Abu Jadayil and Dima H Takruri
Obesity is a major public health problem worldwide; approximately 600 million adults over 18 years old are obese. Changes in the lifestyle including diet and physical activity are main causes of overweight and obesity. Use of management methods including diet, physical activity and behavioral modifications has been found to be disappointing in the excessively obese population with weight regain problem. Hence, surgery, mainly bariatric surgery, is a choice in case of morbid obesity (where BMI is more than 40 or in case of diabetic patients with BMI of 35 or more). However, the substantial weight loss and improvements in co morbid conditions observed after bariatric surgery are not without health and nutritional risks. Bariatric procedures produce changes in the gastrointestinal anatomy and physiology, leading to changes in the quantity and quality of diet, which may result in nutrient deficiencies. The most common nutritional concerns following bariatric surgery are deficiencies of iron, vitamin B12, folic acid, vitamin D, calcium, and in some patients thiamin, vitamin A, zinc and selenium. In this review nutrient deficiencies after bariatric surgery are discussed.