Gastric bypass surgery, a type of bariatric operation that limits the types and amounts of foods that you can eat, shrinks the overall size and capacity of the stomach. This procedure helps provide long lasting weight loss. Like any surgery, gastric bypass surgery does have associated risks, including infection, food intolerance and vitamin and mineral deficiencies. If considering gastric bypass surgery, discuss your options with your doctor to ensure that you are making the best choice for your specific situation and lifestyle.
Identification
According to the MayoClinic website, gastric bypass surgery is the most frequently performed weight loss surgery in the United States. It is a weight loss surgery for those who are unable to successfully lose weight on their own via diet and exercise. The surgery involves stapling the stomach and bypassing a portion of the small intestine. This creates a smaller stomach pouch that promotes decreased intake of food at meals. Essentially, you will feel full with less food. It is not a quick fix for obesity and requires commitment to a healthy diet and exercise regimen post surgery to promote lasting weight loss.
Reason for B-12 Deficiency
By decreasing the size of the stomach and bypassing a portion of the small intestine, you are also decreasing the surface area for digestion and absorption of nutrients from foods. The surgery causes a loss of cells that secrete stomach acid and intrinsic factor for digestion. According to the National Institutes of Health, intrinsic factor is a protein made by cells of the stomach lining that is needed for the body to absorb vitamin B-12.
Symptoms of B-12 Deficiency
Vitamin B-12 deficiency, while rare, can occur from the body's inability to digest and absorb B-12 from food. NIH states even a slight decrease in B-12 levels can cause many symptoms, including fatigue, muscle weakness, spasticity, incontinence, hypotension, constipation, loss of appetite, numbness, depression, confusion, dementia and mouth soreness.
B-12 Food Sources
Fish, shellfish, meat and dairy products contain vitamin B-12. According to Worlds Healthiest Foods, animal products contain more of the vitamin than plants. It reports that snapper and calf's liver make excellent B-12 sources, while other very good sources include venison, shrimp, scallops, salmon and beef. Plant sources of B-12 include sea plants, algae, yeasts and fermented plant foods such as tofu.
Alternative B-12 Sources
According to a 1993 study titled "Gastric Acid Secretion and Vitamin B-12 Absorption After Vertical Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass for Morbid Obesity," after gastric bypass surgery, stomach acid secretion is virtually absent and food-bound vitamin B-12 is neither digested nor absorbed properly. The study suggests that vitamin B-12 supplementation is important and may be achieved with either monthly injected vitamin B-12 or daily oral supplementation via nonfood vitamin sources, since the body is unable to properly digest foods. NIH reports that dietary supplements of B-12 are usually present as cyanocobalamina. Vitamin B-12 is also available by injection and is the form typically used by doctors to treat a B-12 deficiency.
References
- National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements: Vitamin B12.
- "Annals of Surgery"; Gastric Acid Secretion and Vitamin B12 Absorbtion After Vertical Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass for Morbid Obesity.; Smith M.D., Herkes Ph.D., Behrns M.D., Fairbanks M.D., Kelly M.D., and Sarr M.D.; 1993.
- MayoClinic.com: Gastric Bypass Surgery.
- National Institutes of Health, Medline Plus: Gastric Bypass Surgery.
- Worlds Healthiest Foods: Vitamin B12
- National Institutes of Health, Medline Plus: Intrinsic Factor.
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