Potential Nutritional Deficiencies in Obese Subjects 5 Years after Bariatric Surgery

Background/Objectives: Few studies have investigated the long-term variation of nutritional parameters after bariatric surgery. We examined changes in weight, vitamin status, and patient-reported dietary supplement use up to 5 years after surgery. Subjects/Methods: Circulating vitamin levels and data on self-reported dietary supplement use were collected in patients undergoing Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), sleeve gastrectomy (SG), and adjustable gastric banding (AGB). These parameters were reassessed 3 and 5 years after surgery. Results: Sixty subjects (48 women, mean age = 41.6 +/- 11.3 years) completed the 5-year follow-ups after surgery (AGB n = 8; SG n = 36; RYGB n = 16). No early postsurgery complications were reported. Average weight loss after 60 months was 29.7 +/- 12.4 kg, and excess body weight loss was 40.6 +/- 20.4 kg. Percentage excess weight loss was 63.1% +/- 26.1% (AGB 40.4% +/- 31%; SG 61.7% +/- 22.3%; RYGB 77.6% +/- 22.6%). At 5 years, nutritional deficiencies were reported in 28%, 70%, and 87% of AGB, SG, and RYGB patients, respectively. Dietary supplement use was infrequent before surgery, whereas it was reported by 61% and 73% of patients at 3 and 5 years after surgery (AGB 37%; SG 75%; RYGB 94%). Conclusions: Despite the widespread recommendation to use multivitamin supplements, nutritional deficiencies cannot be ruled out, even after 5 years of follow-up postbariatric surgery. As a result, continuous intermittent surveillance of nutritional parameters is suggested in postbariatric surgery patients.