Do specialized bariatric multivitamins lower deficiencies after sleeve gastrectomy?

Background: Vitamin and mineral deficiencies are common after a sleeve gastrectomy (SG). The aim of this study is to examine the effectiveness of a specialized bariatric multivitamin (WLS Optimum) for SG patients on deficiencies compared with a regular multivitamin (MVS) for up to 5 years. Methods: Data of all patients who underwent a SG procedure in the Catharina Hospital Eindhoven (CZE) between July 2011 and July 2016 were collected and retrospectively analyzed. All patients who completed a preoperative blood test and at least one blood withdrawal during the first operative year were included in this study. Results: This study included 970 patients; 291 patients in the WLS-user group and 679 patients in the non-WLS-user group. In favor of the user group, significantly less de novo deficiencies were found of vitamin B₁ (2 years) and vitamin B₆ (two and three), folic acid (1 and 2 years), and vitamin B₁₂ (at 1 year). Binomial logistic regression showed a significant influence of multivitamin supplementation mainly on ferritin; vitamins B₁, B₆, B₁₂, and D; and folic acid, (all p < 0.05). The total number of de novo deficiencies was significantly reduced during the whole study for all WLS Optimum users. Conclusions: Vitamin deficiencies are common, and postoperative nutritional management after SG is underestimated. The use of a specialized multivitamin supplement resulted in higher mean serum concentrations and less deficiencies of vitamin B₁, folic acid, and vitamin B₁₂. This study shows that SG patients benefit from the specialized multivitamin supplements, but adjustments are required for iron and vitamin B₆ content.