Knoxville Weight Loss Surgeon Discusses New Clinical Study on Prevention of Nutritional Deficiencies After Bariatric Surgery

KNOXVILLE, TN--(Marketwired - Dec 22, 2015) - Weight loss surgery is designed to help patients who suffer from severe obesity lose weight and reduce serious risks to their health. These surgical procedures alter the patient's GI tract either by creating restriction or malabsorption along with significantly altering the gut hormones leading to dramatic weight loss. Dr. Stephen G. Boyce, a Knoxville bariatric surgeon and the director of the New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery, says surgical weight loss procedures have proven effective for many patients and have helped individuals all over the world successfully lose weight. However, Dr. Boyce says, the surgical procedures often result in life-threatening vitamin and mineral deficiencies without proper supplementation. He notes that many patients are not compliant with their bariatric vitamin and mineral regimens, and he recently co-authored a study proving that simplifying the patient's vitamin regimen can lead to lower deficiency rates after surgery, helping patients maintain better long-term nutritional health.

Along with co-authors Richie Goriparthi, MD, Jennifer Clark, RD, Krystal Cameron, RD, and Mitchell S. Roslin, MD, Dr. Boyce conducted a study recently published in the peer reviewed journal Obesity Surgery asking the question: "Can Composite Nutritional Supplement Based on the Current Guidelines Prevent Vitamin and Mineral Deficiency After Weight Loss Surgery?" The goal of the study was to find out whether patients who had laparoscopic roux-en-y gastric bypass surgery were more compliant with their nutritional supplementation regimens when asked to take a composite supplement containing vitamins and minerals based on 2008 guidelines proposed by the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, and The Obesity Society.

309 patients were included in the study. They were asked to take a customized supplement* that contained vitamins and minerals based on the guidelines, as well as iron and calcium; however, the study modified the guidelines to include twice as much vitamin D₃. Ultimately, the study found that patients who were compliant with the regimen had significantly lower nutritional deficiency rates than the patients who did not take the supplement as directed or took another type of supplement. It concluded that the use of a composite vitamin and mineral supplement (all-in-one multivitamin formula) based on the 2008 guidelines appeared to be effective in the prevention of numerous vitamin and mineral deficiencies for patients who adhere to the regimen, and that composite supplements help simplify the post-surgical supplement regimen, which increases patient compliance. That being said, Dr. Boyce notes that, even with the simplified regimen, compliance with the nutritional supplements was far from universal among patients in the study, and improved patient education is needed to make sure that more patients are getting the vitamins and minerals they need after surgery.

Dr. Boyce says sticking to the ASMBS's clinical practice guidelines is one of the most important aspects for life after weight loss surgery. He says that following post-operative instructions and forming good habits about taking vitamin and mineral supplements can greatly increase the chances of maintaining a safe weight loss and better health after bariatric surgery.

*Bari Life® All-in-One Multivitamins were used in this study

About Stephen G. Boyce, MD
Dr. Stephen G. Boyce holds a Masters Certification in Bariatric Surgery and is a fellow of the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. He is the founder of the New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery in the Knoxville, Tennessee area and the developer of Bari Life® Bariatric Supplements. Dr. Boyce's practice was designated as a Center of Excellence® in 2005 by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (formerly known as the American Society for Bariatric Surgery) and is nationally accredited by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP). The New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery offers a range of surgical weight loss techniques, including Gastric Bypass, Gastric Sleeve, Biliary Pancreatic Diversion with Duodenal Switch, adjustable gastric banding and the new FDA-approved Intra-Gastric Balloon. Bari Life® includes a comprehensive array of composite/all in one multivitamins and nutritional supplements designed to help patients maintain their health and decrease the risk of nutritional deficiencies after weight loss surgery. Dr. Boyce is available for interview upon request.

To learn more about the New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery and Bari Life®, please visit newlifebariatricsurgery.com, barilife.com, facebook.com/newlifecenterbariatricsurgery, facebook.com/barilife

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