Stomach surgery leads to “devastating” bone loss
Previous studies have revealed that bone loss could occur after stomach
reduction surgery, putting patients at risk of osteoporosis and fractures. But
researchers from the University of Pittsburgh have found that this still
occurs when patients are taking daily supplements of 1,000mg of calcium and a
vitamin D-rich multivitamin.
Dr Penelope Coates and colleagues looked at 18 women and nine men who had
undergone successful stomach-reduction operations 10 months prior to the study
and a control group of morbidly obese, mixed sex subjects who were waiting to
undergo the same procedure.
By taking urine samples, the researchers found that the heavier, pre-operative
patients were keeping their bone cells in balance, with new cells replacing
old ones in equal amounts.
However, the post-operative patients, who were losing 8 to 10 pounds a month
after surgery, displayed significant imbalance in bone turnover, with new
cells failing to regenerate at the same rate as the old cells died.
Following six individuals from the control group, the research team found that
six months after surgery, bone density in the subjects’ hips dropped by 8
per cent.
If bone loss continues at such a rate while a person continues to drop pounds
in weight the results could be “devastating”, say the researchers.
Dr Coates and colleagues are currently looking at whether the weight loss
itself causes the problem or whether the patients who lose the most weight are
less efficient in absorbing calcium.
“Regardless of the reason for the imbalance in bone turnover, this study
sends a clear message that major weight loss requires ongoing calcium and
vitamin supplementation, as well as early and regular monitoring for bone
loss,” says Dr Coates.
“These are young patients, and many of them have 40 or 50 years of life in
front of them. At a time when they are losing weight and looking forward to
new opportunities, they don’t want to have problems with osteoporosis.”
Source: Experimental Biology meeting 2003, San Diego, US
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