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Prevalence of Micronutrient Deficiencies in Preoperative Bariatric Patients in a New Zealand Tertiary Centre

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Abstract

Purpose

A potential complication of bariatric surgery is development of nutritional deficiencies. Study aims were to assess prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies in preoperative bariatric patients and to examine for ethnic differences.

Methods

Retrospective analysis of 573 patients that underwent bariatric surgery at Counties Manukau District Health Board was carried out. Mean preoperative levels of albumin, calcium, phosphate, folate, vitamin B12, vitamin D, magnesium, haemoglobin, haematocrit, mean cell volume, mean cell haemoglobin, ferritin, iron, and transferrin were calculated. Chi square, fisher exact test, and multiple logistic regression was used to assess for differences in prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies across ethnicities.

Results

The most common micronutrient deficiency was vitamin D (30.85%). There were statistically significant differences in vitamin D deficiency across ethnicities (p < 0.0001). Asians had the highest prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (60%), followed by Pacifica (44.57%), and Māori (31.68%). Asians were more likely to have vitamin D deficiency compared to NZ/Other Europeans (OR = 14.93, p < 0.001). Vitamin D deficiency was associated with higher BMI (OR = 1.05, p = 0.008). The second most common deficiency was iron (21.1%). Asians had the highest prevalence of iron deficiency (44%), followed by Māori (27.95%), and Pacifica (19.57%) (p = 0.0064). Compared to NZ/Other Europeans, Asians (OR = 4.26) and Māori (OR = 1.78) were more likely to be iron deficient (p = 0.004). Female gender was associated with iron deficiency (OR = 2.12, p = 0.007).

Conclusion

Vitamin D and iron are the most common micronutrient deficiencies among preoperative bariatric patients in this cohort and ethnic differences were seen. There may be a role for preoperative supplementation in these at-risk ethnic groups.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of General Surgery, Middlemore Hospital, Counties Manukau Health, Auckland, New Zealand

    Megna Jeram, Christin Coomarasamy & Andrew Donald MacCormick

  2. Department of Surgery, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand

    Andrew Donald MacCormick

Authors
  1. Megna Jeram
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  2. Christin Coomarasamy
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  3. Andrew Donald MacCormick
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Correspondence to Megna Jeram.

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Key points

• The most common micronutrient deficiency in this cohort of New Zealand preoperative bariatric patients was vitamin D.

• Ethnic differences in preoperative micronutrient deficiency among bariatric patients were seen with Asians, Pacifica and Māori having higher prevalence of vitamin D deficiency compared to NZ Europeans.

• There may be a role for preoperative supplementation among bariatric patients in at risk ethnic groups, including Asians, Pacifica, and Māori.

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Jeram, M., Coomarasamy, C. & MacCormick, A.D. Prevalence of Micronutrient Deficiencies in Preoperative Bariatric Patients in a New Zealand Tertiary Centre. OBES SURG 34, 1684–1692 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-024-07170-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-024-07170-z

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