Introduction: Bariatric surgery leads to a significant body weigh reduction although it is associated to a higher risk of presenting some nutritional deficiencies. A common complication, little studied and mainly related to zinc deficiency is alopecia.
Objectives: To compare the nutritional status of zinc, iron, copper, selenium and protein-visceral in women with different degrees of hair loss at 6 months after gastric bypass or tubular gastrectomy.
Methods: The patients were categorized into two groups according to the degree of hair loss: group 1 or mild loss (n = 42) and group 2 or severe hair loss (n = 45). Zinc, iron, copper, and selenium, as well as the indicators of the nutritional status of zinc, iron, copper, and proteinvisceral were assessed before and after 6 months of the surgery.
Results: In both groups there was a significant body weight reduction at 6 months post-surgery (-38.9% ± 16.4%). Patients in group 1 presented a significantly higher intake of zinc (20.6 ± 8.1 vs. 17.1 ± 7.7 mg/d) and iron (39.7 ± 35.9 vs. 23.8 ± 21.3 mg/d.), and lower compromise in the nutritional status of zinc and iron than group 2. However, patients in group 2 had lower compromise in the nutritional status of copper. There were no differences regarding the plasma concentrations of albumin.
Conclusions: The patients having lower hair loss at six months after surgery had higher zinc and iron intake and lower compromise of the nutritional status of both minerals.