Endocrine Abstracts

Background: A high prevalence of vitamin deficiencies in obese subjects has been reported. Bariatric surgery is the most effective long-term treatment of morbid obesity, but this treatment can result in secondary vitamin deficiency.

Aim: The aim of our study was to evaluate the folic acid status in obese patients before sleeve gastrectomy.

Methods: This was a descriptive study including a population of obese patients reffered to our unit for evaluation for bariatric surgery. Their weight, height, BMI and waist circumference were measured. The basal folic acid blood level were determined. It was considered as normal for levels between 3.89 and 26.8 ng/ml.

Results: Among 30 patients evaluated, females accounted for 80% of the overall sample. Mean patient age was 36.8±7.8 years. Average weight was 137.38±24.32 kg. Average BMI was 50.38±8.58 kg/m². Average waist circumference was 138.23±14.97 cm. Mean folic acid blood level preoperatively was 5.03±3.28 ng/ml. About half of the patients (43%) had a folic acid deficiency. Average caloric intake was 3944.53±1683.41 kcal/day. Mean folate intake was 187.87±102.01 μg per day. It was insufficient in 93% of patients. A statistically significant association was found between the folic acid blood level and the daily folate intake. The correlation analysis between anthropometric parameters and folic acid blood level did not show a signifivant statistical association.

Conclusion: Our data suggest that Obesity is a risk factor for folic acid deficiency. This deficiency is likely to worsen after bariatric surgey. Thereby, a preoperative nutritional assessment is important to detect and correct Folic acid deficiency.