[THE CHANGE IN THE CONCENTRATION OF VITAMINS AFTER BARIATRIC SURGERY]

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology and Metabolism
• Nutritional Science
• Surgical Gastroenterology

Context:

• Obesity is a significant global health concern, often necessitating bariatric surgery (BS) for effective weight management.
• Bariatric surgery encompasses various procedures like adjustable gastric banding (AGB), sleeve gastrectomy (SG), and gastric bypass (GB).
• Nutritional status, particularly vitamin levels, is a critical consideration in patients undergoing BS due to potential malabsorption and metabolic changes.

Purpose:

• To investigate the serum concentrations of a comprehensive panel of vitamins (B1, B2, B5, B6, B9, B12, C, D, niacin, biotin, and retinol-binding protein) in obese patients before and one year after undergoing different types of BS.
• To assess the prevalence of vitamin deficiencies in obese individuals and track changes following bariatric interventions.

Summary:

• Serum levels of vitamins C, B6, B5, D, and retinol-binding protein (RBP) were significantly reduced in obese patients both pre- and post-bariatric surgery.
• Following BS, the incidence of deficiencies in vitamins C, D, B6, B5, niacin, folic acid, and RBP either remained stable or increased.
• While concentrations of other vitamins also decreased post-surgery, they generally remained within normal ranges; vitamins B1, B2, B12, and biotin metabolism appeared unaffected by BS.

Impact:

• The findings underscore a high prevalence of vitamin deficiencies in obese patients, which are often exacerbated by bariatric surgery.
• This study highlights the critical need for routine monitoring and proactive supplementation of specific vitamins (C, D, B5, B6, niacin, folic acid, RBP) in patients post-bariatric surgery.
• Understanding these vitamin dynamics is crucial for optimizing long-term health outcomes and preventing complications associated with nutritional deficiencies after BS.