Bariatric Surgery in Vegetarians: Asia-Pacific Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Society (APMBSS) survey of Asian surgeon experience

Abstract

Purpose: Bariatric and metabolic surgery is increasing in Asia to address the growing obesity epidemic. Literature is scarce regarding this surgery in vegetarian patients. We aim to survey surgeons regarding their practices and experiences with the vegetarian population.

Materials and methods: The regional bariatric and metabolic surgery society distributed a multi-national electronic questionnaire to surgeon members. The questionnaire was in the English and Chinese languages.

Results: Fifty-six bariatric and metabolic surgeons responded to the questionnaire (response rate 40.6%). Twenty-two respondents (48.9%) have vegetarian patients in their case volume. Patients mostly consume a vegetarian diet for religious (66.7%) and health (66.7%) reasons. More than 60% of surgeons are unsure of micronutrient deficiency status amongst these patients. Over half of the respondents (58.8%) reported that their vegetarian patients do not take multivitamins or vitamin supplements. Significant proportions of respondents (44.4-61.1%) were unsure of the iron, vitamin B12, vitamin D, zinc, and folic acid deficiency status of these patients. Only 38.9% of respondents routinely prescribe multivitamin supplementation.

Conclusions: Vegetarian bariatric patients in East and South-East Asia are an under-recognized patient cohort at risk of micronutrient deficiencies. There is a knowledge gap among regional surgeons in long-term nutritional assessment and management.

Keywords: Bariatric surgery; Dietary supplements; Micronutrients; Surveys and questionnaires; Vegetarian.