SUMMARYFew studies have demonstrated the risk of metabolic bone disease and a reduction in bone mineral density (BMD) after bariatric surgery. A systematic review was conducted of case-control and cohort studies with the aim of evaluating the relationship between bariatric surgery and bone metabolism. The search was undertaken in MedLine, covering the period from January 1997 to August 2009, using the keywords: "bariatric surgery" AND "osteoporosis" , "fracture" , "bone diseases" , "metabolic" . Six studies were included, comprising four cohort and two casecontrol studies. Three studies evaluated bone metabolism and BMD, and the other evaluated bone metabolism only. Based on this review, bariatric surgery is associated with alterations in bone metabolism, loss of bone mass and an increased risk of fracture. However, the maximum evaluation period covered by these studies was two years after surgery, hence the need to undertake further studies of longer duration in order to achieve a more thorough understanding of this association. Arq Bras Endocrinol Metab. 2010;54(2):158-63 Keywords Osteoporosis; fracture; bariatric surgery; bone diseases SUMÁRIO Alguns estudos têm demonstrado aumento do risco de doença osteometabólica e redução de densidade mineral óssea (DMO) após a cirurgia bariátrica. Realizou-se uma revisão sistemática de estudos de caso-controle e coorte com o objetivo de avaliar a relação entre cirurgia bariátri-ca e o metabolismo ósseo. A procura foi realizada na MedLine de janeiro 1997 a agosto 2009, utilizando os descritores: "bariatric surgery" e "osteoporosis" , "fracture" , "bone diseases" , "metabolic" . Foram incluídos seis estudos, sendo quatro coortes e dois casos-controle. Três desses estudos avaliaram metabolismo ósseo e DMO e os demais avaliaram apenas o metabolismo ósseo. Com base nesta revisão, a cirurgia bariátrica está associada com alterações no metabolismo ósseo, perda de massa óssea e aumento no risco de fraturas. Entretanto, os estudos tiveram acompanhamento máximo de dois anos após a cirurgia, havendo necessidade de estudos de maior seguimento para melhor conhecimento dessa associação. Arq Bras Endocrinol Metab. 2010;54(2):158-63