Dietary Intakes and Biochemical Parameters of Morbidly Obese Patients Prior to Bariatric Surgery

Patients with morbid obesity appear to have adequate nutritional intake, but some studies suggest deficiencies in the micronutrient intake in these patients. Present study aimed to determine dietary intakes and their associated biochemical parameters in an Iranian population of patients with morbid obesity prior to bariatric surgery.

One hundred seventy patients with morbid obesity who have referred to surgery clinic of Firoozgar Hospital were enrolled in the study. Ideal Body Weight (IBW) and Adjusted Ideal Body Weight (AIBW) were calculated. The dietary data were collected using a Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ). Anthropometrics and biochemical parameters were assessed. All the statistical analyses were done using the SPSS with an alpha of 0.05.

Mean age of participants was 37.4 ± 10.17 years. The mean and standard deviation (SD) of the BMI and EBW values was 45.75 ± 6.49 kg/m and 47.6 ± 13.74 kg, respectively. All the micro- and macro-nutrient intakes are significantly different from the recommended values, except for vitamin A in the men and calcium in the 51-70-year-old women. 47.1% and 17.1% of the participants were classified as patients with diabetes and pre-diabetes, respectively. Majority of participants had lower serum iron levels than the reference values. Almost all the participants (97%) had normal albumin levels.

Despite their excess intakes of energy, patients with obesity usually suffer from micronutrient deficiencies, such as vitamin D, iron, and vitamin B12, which can be accompanied by complicated biochemical disorders like impaired glucose metabolism and dyslipidemia. Therefore, bariatric surgery candidates require close nutritional monitoring before and after their surgical operations.