Blood tests after WLS

Importance of Blood tests after- Weight-loss surgery (WLS)

Your body has now been surgically modified so monitoring your nutrition is vital for your ongoing health.

Food restriction and malabsorption are great for weight loss but can also result in varying levels of vitamin and mineral deficiencies even when you're eating a healthy diet.

It is these deficiencies that can build up over time and cause problems.

Vitamin or mineral Common vitamin/ mineral deficiency symptoms include.

Thiamin

(vitamin B1)

Low levels cause cramps and irritability. Very low levels can result in swelling of the limbs, heart failure, nerve pain and poor memory.

Vitamin B12

Fatigue, light headedness, shortness of breath, ringing in ears, rapid pulse, pins and needles, irritability, forgetfulness, sore tongue, loss of appetite and diarrhea.

Folate

Disturbed red blood cell production, contributing to anemia (which then results in tiredness and fatigue).

Iron

Anemia (which then results in tiredness and fatigue).

Vitamin D

Reduced bone density, resulting in bone pain and loss of strength.

Vitamin A

Poor wound healing, loss of sensation of taste, damage to the cornea of the eye, ultimately leading to blindness.

Copper

Anaemia (that does not respond to iron supplementation) and neutropenia (reduced white blood cells).

Zinc

Effects sense of taste, smell, reduced appetite, poor wound healing, irritability, poor immunity, hair loss, muscle wasting and dermatitis.

Weight loss surgery research recommends having your blood tested every 6-12 months under the supervision of an experienced WLS doctor or dietitian.

Blood test summary below includes.

Blood Test Pre Surgery 6 Months Post Surgery Annually*

Iron

All surgeries

All surgeries

All surgeries

Vitamin B12

All surgeries

Sleeve, bypass

Sleeve, bypass

Folate

All surgeries

All surgeries

All surgeries

Vitamin D

All surgeries

Optional

All surgeries

Vitamin A

All surgeries

Bypass

Bypass

Vitamin E

Band (optional),

Sleeve, Bypass

If symptoms present

If symptoms present

Zinc

Bypass

Optional

Bypass

Thiamin

All if at risk or if symptoms present

All surgeries

If there is persistent vomiting

Selenium

-

Optional

Bypass

Copper

-

-

Bypass

Calcium

Blood tests for calcium levels are

not good indicator of deficiency and

bone density scans are necessary

to truly assess

Blood tests for calcium levels are

not good indicator of deficiency

and bone density scans are necessary

to truly assess

Blood tests for calcium levels are not good

indicator of deficiency and bone density

scans are necessary to truly assess

by Sally Johnston and Justine Hawke from Nutrition for Weight Loss Surgery