Trace element status and inflammation parameters after 6 months of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass

Knowledge about the practical consequences of the nutritional status of Fe, Zn, and Cu and inflammation in obesity is limited. The objective of this study was to evaluate changes on trace element status and their potential associations with selected inflammation parameters in patients after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP).

Sixty-three women (mean age, 36.9 ± 9.2 years, body mass index, 43.8 ± 4.3 kg/m²) were evaluated at baseline and 6 months after RYGBP. Anthropometric (weight, waist circumference), body composition (fat mass and fat-free mass), dietary (nutrient intakes), and metabolic and inflammation (glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, adiponectin, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, hs-CRP, leukocytes, polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN)) parameters were determined in addition to selected indices of Fe, Zn, and Cu status.

All but one (HDL-cholesterol) metabolic and inflammation parameters had significant differences when compared before and after RYGBP. Hemoglobin, serum ferritin, the size of the rapidly exchangeable zinc pool, and plasma copper decreased after RYGBP. Plasma and hair zinc, as well as zinc protoporphyrin increased. The change in Hb was significantly associated (p < 0.05) to the change in leukocytes (r = 0.33) and adiponectin (r = -0.44). Zinc protoporphyrin change was associated to the change in PMN (r = 0.32) and HDL-cholesterol (r = -0.29). No other associations between the changes of the rest of Fe, Zn, and Cu parameters with the changes of any of the metabolic and inflammation parameters were observed.

RYGBP produced significant weight and fat mass losses, with improvement of metabolic and inflammation parameters. Iron, zinc, and copper status were impaired after the surgery.