Gastric bypass surgery can be a powerful tool for patients who have not had success with dietary and exercise interventions for weight loss. Weight loss is not the only result of gastric bypass surgery; it has been shown to be effective at treating diabetes and reducing risk for heart disease as well. It’s not all good news though. Studies are showing that while your body becomes more effective at glucose metabolism, micronutrient absorption is decreased post surgery. Micronutrients are vitamins and minerals, which are essential for keeping the machinery of our cells in working order. Poor absorption can lead to the development of nutrient deficiencies. Symptoms such as hair loss, brittle nails, skin issues, brain fog, numbness or tingling in fingers or toes among others may indicate that your body is lacking one or more micronutrients.
Developing a plan to monitor your nutritional status is an important part of your long term post gastric bypass surgery care. Laboratory testing can be used to make sure your body has the vitamins and minerals it needs for proper functioning. If you have developed nutrient deficiencies, using IV nutrient therapy may help you reach healthy micronutrient levels faster than using oral therapy or diet alone. Once your micronutrients have returned to normal ranges, using quality nutritional supplements and diet may help you maintain those healthy levels. If you have had gastric bypass or gastric banding surgery recently and would like help preventing nutrient deficiency, schedule an appointment with one of our doctors. We have many testing and treatment options for supporting you at Revolutions Naturopathic. Dr. Boulter has a special interest in gastrointestinal conditions and would like to work with you to achieve optimal health.
Sources:
Mosinski, J. D., & Kirwan, J. P. (2016). Longer-Term Physiological and Metabolic Effects of Gastric Bypass Surgery. Current diabetes reports, 16(6), 50.
Long-term Follow-up Care for the Postoperative Bariatric Surgery Patient. Endocrine today, November 1, 2011.