Bariatric surgery: how and why to supplement *

Patients undergoing bariatric surgery are at increased risk of developing nutritional deficiencies from the limited intake and absorption of different nutrients. Thus, a systematic review on PubMed and ISI Web of Science was conducted, including articles from September 1983 to April 2010, to identify literature regarding nutritional deficiencies following bariatric surgery and how treatment is carried out. The keywords used individually or in combinations were: bariatric surgery, obesity, vitamin/mineral deficiencies, protein deficiency, nutrient absorption, and nutrient supplementation. The literature suggests the use of nutritional supplementation to prevent or treat nutritional deficiencies resulting from anatomical changes due to surgical techniques. The success of oral nutritional supplementation in correcting or preventing nutritional deficiencies depends on several factors. Thus, it is very important in clinical practice to understand how the nutrients can be administered. This review aims is to assist in better selecting the nutrients to ensure an appropriate nutrient replacement in patients undergoing bariatric surgery.