Hyperparathyroidism (HPT) can occur after gastric bypass because of the alteration in vitamin D and calcium absorption. Adequate serum vitamin D concentrations have not been clearly defined in this patient population. Vitamin D (Vit D) and parathyroid hormone (PTH) were assessed 1 year after laparoscopic gastric bypass (LGB). The prevalence of HPT and Vit D deficiency were determined and their association was evaluated using Fisher's exact test. Ninety-three patients (aged 44 ± 1.1 years, 49.6 ± 0.67 kg/m2 body mass index, 79.6% female, 69.6% white) were evaluated. The prevalence of Vit D deficiency (less than 20 ng/mL) and HPT (greater than 65 pg/mL) was 23.6 per cent (n = 22) and 25.7 per cent (n = 28), respectively. Among patients with HPT, only eight of 28 (28.6%) had Vit D deficiency, and of those with Vit D deficiency, only eight of 22 (36.4%) had HPT. There was a weak inverse correlation (r = –0.37) between PTH and Vit D. Blacks are at higher risk for Vit D deficiency. There was no significant association between Vit D deficiency and HPT, Vit D deficiency and Roux limb length, or HPT and Roux limb length. After LGB, Vit D deficiency and hyperparathyroidism occur commonly. Body mass index and Roux limb length are not associated with these two conditions, but racial differences do exist. There is a weak inverse correlation between Vit D and PTH. Further research is needed to elucidate the causes, treatments, and significance of HPT after LGB.

Bariatric surgery is efficacious for the treatment of severe obesity; however, little empirical research exists describing the demographic, psychosocial, and cognitive characteristics of patients presenting for the surgery. One hundred and sixty-nine morbidly obese patients seeking bariatric surgery underwent a presurgical psychological assessment, including cognitive testing. Morbidly obese individuals seeking bariatric surgery were similar in education, income status, and IQ compared with normative data. IQ was average, did not correlate with body mass index, and reflected a normal distribution. As a group, bariatric surgery patients endorsed minimal levels of depression and low levels of psychopathology. Obese individuals did demonstrate specific cognitive deficits on tests of executive function (e.g., problem solving and planning) when compared with normative data. This data suggests that bariatric surgery patients differ very little from other surgical populations on most demographic and psychosocial variables. The data does provide evidence for specific cognitive deficits in the area of executive functions at baseline in morbidly obese adults seeking bariatric surgery.

Background Weight regain that begins 12–18 months after laparoscopic gastric bypass has been attributed to changes in resting metabolic rate (RMR), which is largely determined by lean body mass (LBM). An oral supplement containing beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate, glutamine, and arginine (HMB/Glu/Arg) has helped to restore LBM in cachexia due to cancer and in critically ill trauma patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of oral HMB/Glu/Arg on LBM and RMR following laparoscopic gastric bypass (LGB). Methods Patients who underwent LGB were randomized to receive 24 g of HMB/Glu/Arg dissolved in water twice daily for 8 weeks or to receive no supplement. Weight loss, LBM, and RMR were assessed preoperatively, 2 and 8 weeks postoperatively. LBM was determined by dual emission x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and RMR was measured by indirect calorimetry. Results Thirty patients were enrolled: 80% white; 20% African American; 96.7% women; mean age 46.9 ± 8.4 years; mean weight 113.4 ± 11.6 kg; and mean body mass index (BMI) 43.3 ± 4.1 kg/m2. The experimental and control groups included 14 and 16 patients, respectively, and there was no difference in baseline demographics and characteristics between the two groups. At 8 weeks, weight, BMI, LBM, and RMR significantly decreased by 15.7 ± 2.5 kg, 6.0 ± 1.0 kg/m2, 7.8 ± 4.0 kg, and 290.6 ± 234.9 kcal/day, respectively (P < 0.0001 for each variable). However, when comparing these changes between the two groups, no statistical significance was observed. Conclusions There is a significant decrease in weight, BMI, LBM, and RMR in all subjects after LGB, and these changes were not affected by the use of HMB/Glu/Arg. Potential preservation of LBM as a result of HMB/Glu/Arg requires further investigation. However, its consumption (78 calories per serving) did not adversely affect weight loss in the experimental group.

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