Presently, obesity is an epidemic all over the globe. Bariatric surgery, offers a sustainable solution to weight loss compared to other alternatives such exercising programs and dieting (Patel et.al, 2017). Like any other medical procedure, bariatric surgery has side effects relating to micro deficiencies arising from both patients’ and variables that go into the medical procedures. Furthermore, micronutrients deficiencies resulting from bariatric surgery are vitamin B12 and folate deficiencies.

How often B12 should be tested

Vitamin B12 is a vital vitamin, which performs many functions within the body. There are various ways for testing B12 (Patel et.al, 2017). One of the ways is through a blood test and urine. This deficiency is common among elderly people.

            When a patient develops vitamin B12, health care providers can administer b12 shots after bariatric surgery. Furthermore, according to past researches, oral supplementation of the B12 returns the levels back to normal after the surgery especially among patients who underwent gastric bypass (Patel et.al, 2017). Statistics reveal that an estimated 50% of patients who undergo bariatric surgery experience B12 deficiency. For example in America, this percentage is 200,000 people.

Normally, after bariatric surgery, a patient has to follow a dietary supplementation plan even before leaving the hospital bed (Patel et.al, 2017). However, B12 complications may develop later after supplementation fails.

B12 occurs naturally in meat and dairy items. It plays a crucial part in development and duplication of cells as well as normal functioning of the nervous system (Patel et.al, 2017). Daily dosage of B12 is 2.4 mg. Some of the effects associated with bariatric surgery are anemia, which consequently causes fatigue and faintness. In the end, bariatric patients have a high probability of suffering from B12 deficiency due to changing the digestive region hence disrupting normal absorption of B12 vitamin.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reference

Patel, J., Mundi, M., Hurt, R., Wolfe, B. and Martindale, R., (2017). ‘Micronutrient Deficiencies After Bariatric Surgery: An Emphasis on Vitamins and Trace Minerals,’ Nutrition in Clinical Practice, 32(4), pp.471-480. [Online]. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28609642