Endocrine Abstracts

Background and Aim: A direct link between obesity and micronutrient deficiencies has been established. These nutritional dificencies are mainly caused by poor-quality diets but also due to increased demands and have been associated with a wide range of physiological and functional impairments. The aim of this study was to assess the nutritional status of obese patients and to investigate the possible association between funnctional disorders and micronutrient intake.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional descriptive study including 50 obese patients. Dietary intake was assessed by trained nutritionists using a 24-hour recall method. Functional disorders were detected by the Screening of Micronutrient Deficiency (DDM) questionnaire validated by the European Institute of Dietetics and Micronutrition (IEDM) that evaluates mood, gastro-intestinal, osteoarticular, infectious, skin and circulatory disorders. Statistical associations between the questionnaire’s results and dietary intake were assessed using the SPSS 25.0 version.

Results: Mean age was 41, 54±12, 48 years with female predominance (88%). Mean BMI was 40.33±6.39 kg/m². Vitamin A, D, C, and B6 deficiency was noted in 74%, 100%, 96% and 68% of cases, respectively. Magnesium, iron, zinc, copper, and selenium deficiency was noted in 82%, 6%, 24%, 22% and 8% of cases, respectively. There were a significant and negative association between fatigue, mood disorders and vitamin B6 and magnesium intake (r=−0.485; P<0.01 and r=−0.292; P=0.039, respectively), osteoarticular and degenerative disorders and vitamin A intake (r=−0.297; P=0.036), infectious disorders and vitamin C, selenium and iron intake (r=−0.368; P=0.09, r=−0.336; P=0.017 and r=−0.292; P=0.04, respectively), skin diseases and beta-carotene intake (r=−0.344; P=0.014) and circulatory system diseases and vitamin B9 intake (r=−0.394; P=0.005). Gastrointestinal disorders were not significantly associated with dietary intake.

Conclusion: Evaluating micronutriment deficiencies is an important step in identifying the underlying cause of many chronic symptoms and conditions in obese patients in order to improve their treatment and quality of life.