Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy and nutritional deficiency: A comprehensive longitudinal analysis

Area of Science:

• Bariatric Surgery
• Nutritional Science
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is a key procedure for morbid obesity management.
• LSG can cause significant nutritional challenges and micronutrient deficiencies, including iron, Vitamin B12, and folate.
• Understanding these deficiencies is vital for patient health post-surgery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of micronutrient deficiencies after LSG.
• To identify gender-specific patterns in nutritional status post-LSG.
• To assess the impact of supplement adherence on nutritional outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Prospective cohort study of 70 patients undergoing LSG.
• Comprehensive nutritional assessments at baseline and 6, 12, 24 months post-surgery.
• Measurement of serum iron, Vitamin B12, folate levels, and tracking of supplement adherence.

Main Results:

• Female patients showed higher rates of iron deficiency (58% at 6 months).
• Vitamin B12 deficiency increased progressively in both genders.
• Supplement adherence dropped from 96% to 42% by 24 months; female gender, younger age, and poor adherence were risk factors.

Conclusions:

• Nutritional deficiencies post-LSG are a significant clinical issue, particularly for women.
• Long-term nutritional monitoring is essential.
• Targeted interventions to enhance supplement adherence are necessary to improve patient outcomes.