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Effectiveness of B Vitamin Supplementation Following Bariatric Surgery: Rapid Increases of Serum Vitamin B12

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Abstract

Background

Few prospective studies have compared changes of nutrient intake while assessing effectiveness of thiamin, vitamin B12, and folate supplementation to prevent B vitamin deficiencies immediately following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and sleeve gastrectomy (SG). Therefore, we determined the response to 3 months supplementation on maintaining blood B vitamin concentrations.

Methods

Women undergoing RYGB (n = 11) and SG (n = 11) consumed bariatric vitamin supplements (12 mg thiamin, 350 μg vitamin B12, 800 μg folic acid) daily for 3 months. Height, weight, body mass index, and blood vitamin concentrations were measured preoperatively and at 3 months. Wilcoxon signed-rank analyses compared body weight parameters, laboratory indices, and nutrient intake at baseline and 3 months.

Results

Supplementation for 3 months maintained blood thiamin, increased serum folate from 13.1 ± 5.4 to 16.3 ± 6.0 nmol/L (P = 0.049), and increased serum vitamin B12 concentrations from 498 ± 150 to 736 ± 340 pg/mL (P = 0.005). Dietary intake of thiamin and folate decreased in the combined surgical groups, while dietary intake of B12 was maintained. Bariatric B vitamin supplements provided multiple intakes of the Recommended Dietary Allowances (1090 % thiamin, 14,583 % vitamin B12, 200 % folate).

Conclusions

Although energy intake decreased 64 %, B vitamin supplementation for 3 months resulted in a 48 % increase of serum vitamin B12, a modest increase of serum folate, and no reduction of blood thiamin concentrations. Long-term effects of the rapid rise of serum B12 levels attributed to the high content of supplements warrant further investigation.

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Acknowledgments

Statistical analysis of data performed by Dr. Rene Paulson was appreciated.

Support

This project was funded in part by a Chancellor’s Research Fellowship from Texas Woman’s University. Multivitamin supplements were donated by Celebrate®.

Conflict of Interest

Carolyn E. Moore and Vadim Sherman declare they have no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nutrition and Foods Sciences, Texas Woman’s University, 6700 Fannin, Houston, TX, 77030, USA

    Carolyn E. Moore

  2. Department of Surgery, Houston Methodist Hospital, 6565 Fannin, Houston, TX, 77030, USA

    Vadim Sherman

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  1. Carolyn E. Moore
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  2. Vadim Sherman
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Correspondence to Carolyn E. Moore.

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Moore, C.E., Sherman, V. Effectiveness of B Vitamin Supplementation Following Bariatric Surgery: Rapid Increases of Serum Vitamin B12 . OBES SURG 25, 694–699 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-014-1441-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-014-1441-5

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