Micronutrient Deficiencies After Bariatric Surgery

An Emphasis on Vitamins and Trace Minerals

Patel, Jayshil J. MD
Mundi, Manpreet S. MD
Hurt, Ryan T. MD, PhD
Wolfe, Bruce MD
Martindale, Robert G. MD, PhD

¹Division of Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
²Division of Endocrinology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
³Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
⁴Division of Bariatric Surgery, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, Oregon, USA
⁵Division of General Surgery, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, Oregon, USA.

Jayshil J. Patel, MD, Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, 9200 West Wisconsin Avenue, Suite E5200, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA. Email: [email protected]

Nutrition in Clinical Practice 32(4):p 471-480, August 2017. | DOI: 10.1177/0884533617712226

Obesity has become a worldwide epidemic with a disproportionate increase in grade III obesity. Bariatric surgery offers an attractive option for sustained weight loss compared with traditional methods such as exercise and diet. Micronutrient deficiencies are common and clinically significant after bariatric surgery. These deficiencies are related to a combination of patient and surgical variables. A thorough understanding of specific micronutrient deficiencies is necessary for early recognition and optimal management. The purpose of this review is to describe indications, outcomes, and types of bariatric procedures, risk factors, and mechanisms for micronutrient deficiencies, as well as outline specific vitamin and trace element deficiencies after bariatric surgery.