Paired Editorial: Nutrient Status and Supplement Use During Pregnancy Following Metabolic Bariatric Surgery—A Multicenter Observational Cohort Study

Heusschen et al. highlight the importance of nutritional care during pregnancy after metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) [1]. Most patients submitted to MBS are women of fertile age. Weight loss after MBS leads to fertility improvement and decreased risk of gestational diabetes and hypertension. However, pregnancy after MBS carries an increased risk of nutritional deficiencies. Nutritional intake is compromised after MBS, and the absorption of micronutrients is affected [2]. In addition, pregnancy brings increased nutritional demands and risk of micronutrient deficiencies [3]. The authors highlight the importance of monitoring nutritional status and using vitamin and mineral supplements among patients submitted to MBS (SG and RYGB). Regardless of whether a specialized weight loss multivitamin and mineral supplement (WLS-MVS) or a standard multivitamin and mineral supplement (sMVS) was used, there appeared to be an increased prevalence of low serum levels of ferritin, folate, vitamin B₁₂, and vitamin D over the three trimesters [1]. The actual prevalence of low levels may have been underestimated as the lower reference level of serum ferritin 10 to 13 mcg/l was used. …