Bariatric surgery can lead to serious micronutrient deficiencies years later, review finds
The most frequently reported deficiencies are vitamin A, copper and vitamin D, researchers say.
Patients can present with micronutrient deficiencies years after undergoing bariatric surgery, with some deficiencies leading to disability and even death, a review has found.
The review of 83 case reports showed that patients who underwent one of the procedures may present with serious complications beyond the typical two-year period of specialist follow-up.
The median time from surgery to presentation was 8.5 years, with some deficiencies occurring as late as 40 years post-surgery, the UK authors said.
In 65 cases, patients had a main deficiency that related to the presenting complaint and was the primary focus of the report, together with other reported incidental or longstanding deficiencies.
