Serum vitamin and trace element levels of patients undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the change in serum vitamin and trace element levels of patients undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG), which is one of the bariatric surgery methods used as a treatment of obesity. Materials and Methods: The severely obese patients who planned to undergo LSG surgery were included in the study. The anthropometric measurements and blood samples of patients were taken preoperatively and at the third month of postoperative follow-up. The results obtained from serum samples collected for routine postbariatric surgery biochemical test panel were evaluated by clinical biochemistry specialists based on the reference intervals indicated in the kit insert. The data were analyzed using SPSS 25 Package Program with independent samples t-test. Results: Serum Se2-, total iron-binding capacity, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, and folate mean values of the patients decreased after surgery. There was no statistically significant difference of serum Mg2+, Zn2+, Fe2+, hemoglobin, red blood cell count, mean corpuscular volume, ferritin, and vitamin B12 mean values at postoperative follow-up at third month. Conclusion: This study showed that multidisciplinary evaluation of patients' preoperative nutritional profile with clinical biochemistry specialists, dietitian, and bariatric surgery team is essential for planning of surgery and sufficient postoperative follow-up. To better understand the effects of bariatric surgery on micronutrient status, studies with bigger sample size and longer follow-up are needed.