Supervisors info:
Αλέξανδρος Κόκκινος, Αναπλ. Καθηγητής, Ιατρική, ΕΚΠΑ
Νικόλαος Τεντολούρης, Καθηγητής, Ιατρική, ΕΚΠΑ
Κωνσταντίνος Μακρυλάκης, Αναπλ. Καθηγητής, Ιατρική, ΕΚΠΑ
Summary:
Obesity is already a worldwide epidemic, resulting in the rise of the prevalence of diabetes type 2. The most effective and safe strategy used in treating obesity is bariatric surgery.
Morbid obesity and bariatric surgery are both related to a remarkable prevalence of nutritional deficiencies, due to various reasons. Protein, water-soluble vitamins B1, B9, B12, C and the fat-soluble ones, A, D, E, K, the essential minerals calcium, magnesium, zinc, copper, selenium, and iron, the trace element, in the most crucial pre- and post- surgical deficit, are depleted. The nutritional deficiencies put at risk the success of a bariatric operation.
In order to prevent or/and treat these deficiencies, pre-surgical nutritional supplementation is often recommended. Life-long follow-up and administration of supplements are necessary, in order to prevent the deficiencies and the early supplementary prescription could protect against them in the long run. However, the lack of the patients’ compliance with such a program can be a major problem for the prevention of nutritional deficiencies, resulting in serious clinical implications.
However, the preventive prescription of supplements is essential, hence, tailoring of the patients and the design of the intervention according to their special needs, is clearly of vital importance.
Keywords:
Bariatric surgery, Obesity, Therapy, Multi-vitamin supplements, Nutrients