Background: Obesity is recognized as a major public-health problem, which has reached epidemic proportions, in both developed and developing countries. The purpose of this survey is to study effects of gastric bypass surgery at micronutrients and macronutrients intake on patients with morbid obesity.
Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 21 patients. Anthropometry information (weight, height, age, and gender) and three 24-hour recall questionnaires were completed for each participant: Before surgery and 3 months after surgery.
Results: The total intake of macronutrients including carbohydrate, protein and fat decreased between baseline at 3 months post-surgery that was statistically significant for all of the macro-nutrients (p < 0.001). There was a reduction of energy intake from carbohydrate (54.81% ± 20.03% to 44.34% ± 14.59%, p = 0.059) and the energy intake from protein (18.57% ± 5.73% to 26.24% ± 9.83%, p = 0.001) and fat (31.06%± 8.64% to 35.18% ± 25.41%, p = 0.460) along the prospective follow-up period compared to previous values. The mean intake of all micronutrients had decreased during follow-up that was statistically significant for B group vitamins (B1, B2, B3, and B6), float, iron, zinc and copper (p < 0.017 for vitamin B2, p < 0.001 for others).
Conclusion: Our data demonstrate that low dietary intake of energy, micro- and macro-nutrients absolute values and relative to the recommended dietary allowances and estimated average requirements, are highly prevalent after Roux- en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery. Therefore dietary counseling, clinical assessments, and the recommendation of supplements if needed in pre- and post- operatively, might be considered for health promotion after RYGB surgeries.