Many patients who go in for bariatric surgery are deficient in essential vitamins and nutrients. It’s also quite common for adults with nutritional deficiencies to be unaware that they’re deficient; symptoms often do not immediately show. Over time, this can lead to chronic health conditions, such as bone loss and Wernicke encephalopathy, a neurological condition that can cause brain damage and even death.
Some of the most common vitamin deficiencies in bariatric surgery patients include vitamin B1, B12, and D. Challenges absorbing iron and calcium are also common.
- Vitamin B1, or thiamine, is required to protect against Wernicke encephalopathy.
- The stomach is responsible for secreting a substance that allows vitamin B12 to be absorbed, thus by removing part of the stomach, B12 may slowly deplete over the first couple of years after bariatric surgery. Without enough B12, you may develop mental health conditions like depression, as well as experience vision loss.
- Vitamin D is essential for protecting against many diseases, such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
- An iron deficiency can cause extreme exhaustion, irregular heart activity, inflammation, and a reduced appetite. If left untreated, it can lead to heart failure.
- A sustained deficiency in calcium can result in osteoporosis, psoriasis, dental issues, and depression.
Whether you’re planning to have bariatric surgery or you’ve already had the procedure, the best step you can take to make sure you’re getting all the vitamins and nutrients you need is to schedule an appointment with a nutrition specialist. If you find out you’re deficient, you should take a daily supplement. For more information, take a look at the following infographic, which outlines common nutrient deficiencies after bariatric surgery.
Infographic Design By: Healthycell®