Vitamin Mineral Supplement Absorption After Gastric Bypass

Gastric bypass is the most commonly performed weight-loss, or bariatric, surgery in the United States. Gastric bypass is a major surgery that is only considered for obese people who are unable to maintain healthy weight through diet and exercise and who have underlying weight-related health problems such as diabetes and high blood pressure. Although gastric bypass surgery is an effective way to lose weight, it does not come without side effects. Vitamin and mineral deficiency is a possible complication after gastric bypass surgery.

Gastric Bypass

Gastric bypass surgery modifies your digestive system to limit the amount of food and nutrients your body will absorb. MayoClinic.com reports that Roux-en-Y is the preferred gastric bypass surgery, during which your stomach is stabled to create a small pouch and a passage for food to bypass a section of your small intestine. Another form of gastric bypass surgery is called biliopancreatic diversion with a duodenal switch. This surgery involves removal of around 80 percent of your stomach and most of your small intestine. Biliopancreatic diversion has a higher risk for malnutrition and vitamin deficiencies than Roux-en-Y and is only used for people with body mass indexes higher than 50.

Vitamins and Minerals

Vitamins and minerals are essential nutrients that have several important functions in your body. They are needed to maintain healthy bones, skin and teeth. They also help sustain the nervous system, support a healthy immune system, guide energy metabolism and govern growth and development. Most of your nutrient absorption happens in the small intestine. Because part of your small intestine is removed during gastric bypass surgery, it can cause inadequate absorption of vitamins and minerals from food and supplements. This can lead to vitamin and mineral deficiency, which can have severe effects on your health.

Absorption

Several scientific studies showed impaired absorption of vitamins and minerals in patients who underwent gastric bypass surgery. A study published in "Current Diabetes Reports" says that gastric bypass can cause decreased levels of iron absorption. In addition, the study reported that vitamin D deficiency is common after gastric bypass surgery. According to a study published in "Obesity Surgery" in 2007, zinc deficiency is also possible after gastric bypass surgery. Another study published in the "Obesity Surgery" in 2006 showed that serum vitamin B-12, vitamin D, iron and selenium levels were lower after the surgery, indicating an impaired absorption of these nutrients.

Supplementation

Consult your doctor about vitamin and mineral deficiencies that can occur after gastric bypass surgery. Your doctor may recommend you take daily vitamin and mineral supplementation. In addition, you may be required to do routine tests to evaluate your serum vitamin and mineral levels. This can help detect possible deficiencies and intervene before severe deficiency develops.