Prevalence of Micronutrient Deficiencies in Geriatric Bariatric Patients

Obese individuals have high prevalence of thiamine deficiency and hypovitaminosis D. Our hypothesis is that geriatric, bariatric surgery patients are at risk for micronutrient deficiencies. In this retrospective study, 3 males and 30 females (gastric bypass: n = 27; vertical sleeve gastrectomy: n = 6) individuals were evaluated. Eight micronutrients are measured using commercial blood testing. Mean age is 70 yr, mean body mass index is 35 kg/m2, with a mean of 11 years after bariatric surgery. Hypovitaminosis D is identified in 32 of 33 patients. Low vitamin B12 is identified in 32%, low vitamin A in 16%, low vitamin E in 31%, low zinc in 22%, and low iron in 35%. Twenty patients (61%) have clinical thiamine deficiency. Geriatric patients have multiple micronutrient deficiencies after bariatric surgery. Focusing on deficiencies of thiamine, vitamin B12, vitamin D, and iron in geriatric, bariatric patients could enforce treatments designed to prevent development of disabling deficiency syndromes.