Malnutrition Following Bariatric Surgery: Underlying Mechanisms and Strategies for Prevention and Treatment
The benefits of bariatric surgery for severe obesity are well established. As more individuals undergo bariatric surgery, including special populations such as adolescents, stakeholders should have a better understanding of the consequences on nutritional status. Information regarding nutritional outcomes following gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy and biliopancreatic diversion is of primary importance because of the significant impact these surgeries can have on protein, minerals and fat-soluble vitamin nutritional status. The driving factors for various nutritional complications include inadequate dietary intake, as well as impaired digestion and intestinal absorption. Inadequate intake of protein, particularly in the early post-operative period, can contribute to significant losses of lean mass and strength; longer term pathological changes in muscle strength and function have been reported and merit consideration in terms of impact on activities and overall quality of life. Iron deficiency associated with anemia and fatigue, and calcium and vitamin D deficiency, associated with bone fractures, commonly occur. This presentation will be an overview of malnutrition following bariatric surgery, the mechanisms involved, and emerging data regarding nutrition support.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe the prevalence of malnutrition in protein, iron, vitamin D and calcium following bariatric surgery.
- Describe the current understanding of mechanisms that promote malnutrition following bariatric surgery.
- Describe the effectiveness of dietary or supplementary regimens for prevention and treatment of nutrient deficiency
Performance Indicators:
- 4.2.8 Identifies and implements a plan to address
the problem, issue or challenge - 4.1.2 Interprets and integrates evidence-based
research and literature in decision making. - 10.2.8 Establishes the plan of care, directly
addressing the nutrition diagnosis in collaboration
with the patient in defining the time, frequency and
duration of the intervention.
Lisa Spence, PhD, RDN
Assistant Research Scientist
Indiana University
Lisa Tussing-Humphreys, PhD, MS, RD
Associate Professor
University of Illinos at Chicago
Anne Schafer, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine, UCSF; Chief of Endocrinology and Metabolism, San Francisco VA Health Care System
University of California, San Francisco; San Francisco VA Health Care System
.jpg "Nana Gletsu-Miller photo")
Nana Gletsu-Miller, PhD
Associate Professor
Indiana University School of Public Health Bloomington