Preoperative nutritional status of patients undergoing Roux-en-Y gastric bypass for morbid obesity

J Gastrointest Surg. 2006 Jul-Aug;10(7):1033-7. doi: 10.1016/j.gassur.2006.03.004.

Abstract

Few data exist concerning preoperative nutritional status in patients undergoing bariatric surgery. We retrospectively analyzed the preoperative values of serum albumin, calcium, 25-OH vitamin D, iron, ferritin, hemoglobin, vitamin B12, and thiamine in 379 consecutive patients (320 women and 59 men; mean body mass index 51.8 +/- 10.6 kg/m2; 25.8% white, 28.4% African American, 45.8% Hispanic) undergoing bariatric surgery between 2002 and 2004. Preoperative deficiencies were noted for iron (43.9%), ferritin (8.4%), hemoglobin (22%; women 19.1%, men 40.7%), thiamine (29%), and 25-OH vitamin D (68.1%). Low ferritin levels were more prevalent in females (9.9% vs. 0%; P = 0.01); however, anemia was more prevalent in males (19.1% vs. 40.7%; P < 0.005). Patients younger than 25 years were more likely to be anemic than patients over 60 years (46% vs. 15%; P < 0.005). This correlated with iron deficiency, which was more prevalent in younger patients (79.2% vs. 41.7%; P < 0.005). Whites (78.8%) and African Americans (70.4%) had a higher prevalence of vitamin D deficiency than Hispanics (56.4%), P = 0.01. Whites were the least likely group to be thiamine deficient (6.8% vs 31.0% African Americans and 47.2% Hispanics; P < 0.005). Nutritional deficiencies are common in patients undergoing Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, and these deficiencies should be detected and corrected early to avoid postoperative complications.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / diagnosis
  • Avitaminosis / diagnosis
  • Calcium / deficiency
  • Female
  • Ferritins / deficiency
  • Gastric Bypass*
  • Hemoglobins / deficiency
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nutritional Status*
  • Obesity, Morbid / metabolism*
  • Obesity, Morbid / surgery*
  • Postoperative Complications / prevention & control
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Serum Albumin / metabolism
  • Vitamins / metabolism

Substances

  • Hemoglobins
  • Serum Albumin
  • Vitamins
  • Ferritins
  • Calcium