The American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN) is urging clinicians to learn and recognize symptoms of malnutrition in patients who’ve undergone bariatric surgeries.
In a February report, ASPEN said patients typically are on very low-calorie diets in the weeks following bariatric surgery, which can make it difficult for them to consume adequate nutrients. The report quoted Angela Wolfenberger, MS, RDN, LD/N, a bariatric dietitian at Queens Comprehensive Weight Management Program, Kamuela, Hawaii, as noting that patients can also have difficulty consuming adequate amounts of protein as their appetites change after surgery. “This contributes to the necessity of lifelong micronutrient supplements,” Wolfenberger noted.
Complicating the situation: Many patients do not consistently follow up with their medical teams after their bariatric surgeries are completed. Because growing numbers of patients travel to other countries to have their surgeries, the ASPEN report said, seeking follow-up care with those physicians can be difficult.
Certain medications can also interfere with the body’s ability to absorb nutrients, ASPEN said.
The report recommended that clinicians learn to recognize signs of malnutrition, including fatigue, alopecia, and muscle weakness, in patients, and that clinicians keep in mind that patients with histories of malnutrition were likely to continue to have problems with malnutrition after surgery. Wolfenberger added that vitamin D and calcium deficiencies are common among bariatric surgery patients.
If it is not adequately addressed, malnutrition can eventually cause a range of symptoms, including severe hair loss, brittle hair and nails, muscle pain, skin issues such as dermatitis, and restless leg syndrome, the report said.
