Gastric Bypass Surgery Presents Serious Risk of Vitamin B Deficiency

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A 35-year-old woman who received gastric bypass surgery is now prompting questions regarding the potential risks associated with the obesity related procedure.  Following her surgery, the patient began to experience severe symptoms of nausea, fatigue, forgetfulness, muscle problems, hearing loss, abnormal eye movement and anorexia and had lost 40 pounds by the 12th week following the treatment. 

A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan was administered that detected a serious vitamin B1 deficiency, triggering abnormal brain signals. Vitamin B1 deficiencies have been associated with a serious brain condition called Wernicke encephalopathy and must be closely monitored following any gastric bypass procedure. Vitamin B1, which is also known as thiamine, is crucial to maintaining the nervous system as well as carbohydrate metabolism. 

Upon discovery of the deficiency, doctors intravenously gave the woman vitamin B1 supplements, increasing her intake to up to 100 milligrams for every 8 hours.  The increase in vitamin B1 uptake reduced the abnormal eye symptoms and alleviated the atypical brain signals within 11 days. 

A neurologist at George Washington University in Washington D.C. commented that, “Neurological complications following gastric bypass surgery are diverse.  Vitamin B1 deficiency and Wernicke encephalopathy should be carefully considered in surgically treated obese patients.”

If you have concerns or would like to learn more about a gastric bypass procedure, you may wish to speak with a qualified health professional regarding your questions. 




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