Preoperative micronutrient status in morbidly obese patients before undergoing bariatric surgery: results of a cross-sectional study.

Background: Reliable information on micronutrient status before bariatric surgery is needed to optimize preoperative nutritional status and postoperative nutritional therapy.

Objective: To investigate the pro-/vitamin and mineral status and its association with nutrient intake in morbidly obese patients seeking bariatric surgery

Setting: Klinikum Vest, Recklinghausen, Germany.

Methods: The cross-sectional study investigated retinol, ascorbic acid, tocopherol, and β-carotene (high-pressure liquid chromatography), 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay), and calcium, phosphate, and magnesium (photometry) in serum/plasma in 43 patients (body mass index: 52.6±10.5 kg/m(2)) before sleeve gastrectomy. Albumin, parathyroid hormone, and alkaline phosphatase were analyzed. Data were compared with accepted cutoff values. Dietary intake was estimated by 3-day food records, and nutrient intake was compared with recommended values.

Results: One third of participants had ascorbic acid concentrations<28 nmol/L. All patients had β-carotene levels≤.9 µmol/L, although retinol was below the cutoff value (<.7 µmol/L) in only 5%. Tocopherol/cholesterol-ratio was always>2.8 µmol/mmol. Of the patients, 84% had 25-hydroxycholecalciferol levels below 50 nmol/L. Parathyroid hormone was elevated in 23% (>6.5 pmol/L). Calcium, magnesium, and alkaline phosphatase were always, and phosphate was mostly (98%) above cutoff values. Intake of retinol (23%), ascorbic acid (55.8%), vitamin D (90.7%), tocopherol (48.8%), and β-carotene (<2.0 mg/d; 37.2%) were often below recommendations. Correlations between serum/plasma concentrations and nutritional intake and associations between low concentrations and inadequate intake were not observed.

Conclusions: Many morbidly obese patients in Germany suffer from deficiencies in multiple micronutrients, particularly vitamin D, ascorbic acid, and β-carotene before sleeve gastrectomy. Measurement of preoperative micronutrient status will help supplement patients before, and optimize nutritional therapy after, surgery.