Enhancing nutritional health and patient satisfaction five years after metabolic bariatric surgery with targeted supplementation.

BACKGROUND

This study analyzes the long-term outcomes of metabolic bariatric surgery (MBS), focusing on weight loss, nutritional deficiencies, and patient satisfaction. We evaluate different surgical techniques to identify their impact on these outcomes.

METHODS

A five-year retrospective analysis was conducted on 249 patients who underwent MBS at a specialized center. Baseline characteristics included an average age of 38.5 years, weight of 118.5 kg, and BMI of 43.2 kg/m². Weight loss outcomes were assessed using mean excess weight loss (%EWL) at 60 months. Surgical techniques included laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG), one anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB), and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). Nutritional deficiencies and patient-reported quality of life were also evaluated.

RESULTS

The mean %EWL at 60 months was 92.1% ± 25.8% (p = 0.013). While LSG and OAGB showed similar weight loss patterns, RYGB resulted in further weight reduction from the third year onwards. Patients revised from LSG to RYGB had significantly greater weight loss (102.1%) compared to those revised to mini-gastric bypass (MGB) (84.6%, p < 0.05). Nutritional deficiencies were prevalent, with 41.2% of revised LSG patients experiencing iron deficiency and 14.3% developing new vitamin D deficiencies (p < 0.05). Most patients (85%) reported improvements in quality of life, and 85% expressed a willingness to undergo surgery again (p = 0.0028).

CONCLUSIONS

MBS resulted in substantial and sustained weight loss, particularly in RYGB patients. Surgical revisions, especially from LSG to RYGB, were associated with greater weight loss but also increased nutritional risks. Persistent iron and vitamin D deficiencies highlight the necessity of individualized supplementation and long-term monitoring. Type-targeted supplementation represents an innovative approach to optimizing long-term nutritional support in bariatric patients. Future studies with larger cohorts and validated tools are needed to confirm these findings and strengthen clinical guidelines.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06664580).