Researchers Warn of Side Effects of Gastric Bypass Surgery

The results of two separate studies conducted at Washington Hospital Center show the potential for postoperative nutritional deficiency in gastric bypass surgery patients.

The results of the studies suggest that a condition known as small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, which can be a very serious condition that impacts on how the body absorbs vitamins, minerals and elements such as calcium and zinc.

This is a condition that cannot be taken lightly in so far as about 150,000 people will have gastric bypass surgery this year alone. And there are wide variations in surgical techniques.

In one of the studies, conducted by Dr. Timothy Koch the researchers theorize that gastric bypass surgery alters the gut ecology and that could induce calcium deficiency. The surgical changes to the stomach that create a gasric pouch, which is done in a procedure known as the Roux-en-Y procedure has an impact on the number of cells in the lining of the stomach that produce acid. In addition, many patients are given acid suppressing drugs after their surgery.

The researchers suspect that the acid reduction, which is known as achlorhydria, contributes to the overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine. De. Koch states that the competition between bacteria and the human host for ingested nutrients leads to serious complications due to deficiency in elements such as zinc.

The team conducted a retrospective review of gastric bypass patients and the results showed that all of the 43 who had hydrogen breath testing for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth had abnormal findings. They also measured the level of calcium and found that those who had SIBO also had lower levels of calcium. They warn that not having the right amount of calcium absorption may increase the risk to develop, low bone mineral density, osteoporosis or osteomalacia, which is softening of the bones due to defective bone mineralization