Depletion of Serum Carotenoid and Other Fat-Soluble Vitamin Concentrations following Obesity Surgery

Background Obesity constitutes a growing health problem, and surgical treatment of severe obesity is increasingly used. Nutrient deficiencies are common following bariatric surgery and the evidence indicates a progressive increase in the incidence and severity of the deficiency of certain vitamins and related clinical conditions. Because of the potential role of carotenoids in disease prevention, our aim was to assess the carotenoid status in candidates for obesity surgery and the time-course changes following two bariatric procedures. Methods Seventy-five candidates for bariatric surgery (17 men, 58 women; age 43±10 years) and a total of 362 serum samples after obesity surgery (i.e., Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (n=187) and biliopancreatic diversion (n=175)) were consecutively collected and assessed. Retinol, α- and γ-tocopherol, 25-OH-vitamin D3, lutein, zeaxanthin, α- and β-cryptoxanthin, lycopene (trans and cis), α- and β- carotene (trans and cis) were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. Results Mean serum levels of carotenoids in candidates for obesity surgery were within the reference values reported in controls and seasonal variations were present in several analytes. After surgery, and regardless of the type of intervention, all serum carotenoids dropped following first-order kinetics. Cis/trans ratio of lycopene and β- carotene did not change after surgery, over the time or between surgical procedures. On a long-term, serum carotenoids were at or below fifth percentile of reference groups. Conclusions The chronic low levels of carotenoids in these patients compromise their availability to tissues, constituting an additional risk factor for other clinical conditions. Dietary advice on carotenoid-rich, fortified foods or supplements should be also evaluated in these patients.