Are vitamin B₁₂ and folate deficiency clinically important after roux-en-Y gastric bypass?

Abstract

Although iron, vltamm B₁₂, and folate deficiency have been well documented after gastric bypass operations performed for morbid obesity, there is surprisingly little information on either the natural course or the treatment of these deficiencies in Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) patients Durmg a l0-year period, a complete blood count and serum levels of iron, total iron-binding capacity, vltamin B₁₂, and folate were obtained in 348 patients preoperatively and postoperatively at 6-month intervals for the first 2 years, then annually thereafter The principal objectives of this study were to determine how readily patients who developed metabolic deficiencies after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass responded to postoperative supplements of the deficient micronutrient and to learn whether the risk of developmg these deficiencies decreases over time Hemoglobin and hematocrit levels were slgnificantly decreased at all postoperative intervals in comparison to preoperative values Moreover, at each successive interval through 5 years, hemoglobin and hematocrit were decreased signifiantly compared to the preceding interval Folate levels were significantly increased compared to preoperative levels at all time intervals Iron and vltamin B₁₂ levels were lower than preoperative measurements and remained relatively stable postoperatively Half of the low hemoglobin levels were not associated with iron deficiency Taking multivltamin supplements resulted in a lower incidence of folate deficiency but did not prevent iron or vitamin B₁₂ deficiency Oral supplementation of iron and vitamin B₁₂ corrected defiaencies in 43% and 81% of cases, respectively Folate deficiency was almost always corrected with multivitamins alone No patient had symptoms that could be attributed to either vitamin B₁₂ or folate deficiency Conversely, many patients had symptoms of iron deficiency and anenua Lack of symptoms of vitamin B₁₂ and folate deficiency suggests that these deficiencies are not clinically important after RYGB Conversely, iron deficiency and anemia are potentially serious problems after RYGB, particularly in younger women Hence we recommend prophylactic oral iron supplements to premenopausal women who undergo RYGB