Dietary intake of female bariatric patients after anti-obesity gastroplasty

Abstract

Purpose: Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is a popular and successful operation for the treatment of morbid obesity. However, it greatly restricts ingestion and moderately interferes with absorption of food, thus potentially paving the way for undernutrition, especially during the first year before patients adapt to the new condition. Aiming to document actual dietary intake during this period, a prospective observational study was performed.

Methods: Forty consecutive patients were investigated using a 24-hour dietary recall technique every 3 months after surgery for 1 year. Females only were accepted for greater homogeneity of the sample. All received a vitamin and mineral supplement on a daily basis as a postoperative routine. A questionnaire was employed regarding general, nutritional, and gastrointestinal changes as well as consumption of medications. Dietary intake was analyzed after data processing using the Virtual Nutri software package (São Paulo, SP, Brazil).

Results: The surgical response was within the expected range, with about 67% excess weight loss at the end of the 1st year, and the same occurred with gastrointestinal symptoms and drug requirements. Daily energy intake on the 4 analyzed occasions was 529.4 +/- 47.4, 710.9 +/- 47.6, 833.2 +/- 72.0, and 866.2 +/- 95,1 kcal/day (mean +/- SEM); protein intake was increased in the same proportion at 6 and 9 months, but reduced at 12 months. Thus, patients did not meet standard recommendations regarding calories and proteins, even at the end of the 1st year; iron and zinc intake were also inadequate, although deficiencies were probably staved off by the prescribed supplement preparation.

Conclusions: 1) The risk for postoperative undernutrition was evidenced up to 1 year, while spontaneous improvement in food intake was slow and inefficient; 2) Specific protocols should be devised to improve nutrition and health during the postoperative phase until successful dietary adaptation is achieved.