A patient should be concerned of a nutritional problem after bariatric surgery if any of the following occurred:
Zinc: Zinc deficiency has been tied to hair loss in both animal studies and human cases. Based on studies done and their results, it can not be definitely said that zinc would prevent hair loss after weight loss surgery and further studies would be needed to make this connection. A note on zinc: The tolerable upper intake level for zinc is 40 mg in adults. These levels can cause gastrointestinal distress. Chronic toxicity can start at intakes of 60 mg/day. Some patients have heard on chat rooms and list serv forums that “high dose zinc will prevent hair loss after weight loss surgery.” Patients should be advised that high dose zinc therapy is unproven and should only be done under supervision due to the risks associated with toxicity. A lab test to check for zinc deficiency would be best before giving a high dose such as this.
Protein: Low protein intake is associated with hair loss. Limited studies suggest that patients with the most rapid or greatest amounts of weight loss are at greatest risk. Pancreatic enzymes that would help aid in protein digestion are redirected to a lower part of the small intestine. Based on this, it is likely that maldigestion, rather than malabsorption, is responsible for many hair loss cases.
Biotin: To date, there is no science that would support supplementing with, or topically applying biotin will prevent hair loss or improve hair regrowth. While biotin deficiency can cause dermatitis, hair loss is only known to occur in experimentally induced states in animal models or in extreme cases of prolonged diets composed exclusively of egg whites.
Hair loss can be distressing to bariatric surgery patients and many will try to nutrition themselves to see if they can prevent it. Unfortunately, there is little evidence that early hair loss is preventable because it is most likely caused by surgery and rapid weight loss. However, later hair loss can be indicative of a nutritional problem.
Reference: Bariatric Times. “The Latest on Nutrition and Hair Loss in the Bariatric Patient” by Jacqueline Jacques, ND. 9/08
- Hair loss continued more than one year after surgery
- Hair loss started more than six months after surgery
- Patient has had difficulty eating and/or has not complied with supplementation
- Patient has shown low values of ferritin, zinc or protein on lab results
- Patient has had more rapid then expected weight loss
Zinc: Zinc deficiency has been tied to hair loss in both animal studies and human cases. Based on studies done and their results, it can not be definitely said that zinc would prevent hair loss after weight loss surgery and further studies would be needed to make this connection. A note on zinc: The tolerable upper intake level for zinc is 40 mg in adults. These levels can cause gastrointestinal distress. Chronic toxicity can start at intakes of 60 mg/day. Some patients have heard on chat rooms and list serv forums that “high dose zinc will prevent hair loss after weight loss surgery.” Patients should be advised that high dose zinc therapy is unproven and should only be done under supervision due to the risks associated with toxicity. A lab test to check for zinc deficiency would be best before giving a high dose such as this.
Protein: Low protein intake is associated with hair loss. Limited studies suggest that patients with the most rapid or greatest amounts of weight loss are at greatest risk. Pancreatic enzymes that would help aid in protein digestion are redirected to a lower part of the small intestine. Based on this, it is likely that maldigestion, rather than malabsorption, is responsible for many hair loss cases.
Biotin: To date, there is no science that would support supplementing with, or topically applying biotin will prevent hair loss or improve hair regrowth. While biotin deficiency can cause dermatitis, hair loss is only known to occur in experimentally induced states in animal models or in extreme cases of prolonged diets composed exclusively of egg whites.
Hair loss can be distressing to bariatric surgery patients and many will try to nutrition themselves to see if they can prevent it. Unfortunately, there is little evidence that early hair loss is preventable because it is most likely caused by surgery and rapid weight loss. However, later hair loss can be indicative of a nutritional problem.
Reference: Bariatric Times. “The Latest on Nutrition and Hair Loss in the Bariatric Patient” by Jacqueline Jacques, ND. 9/08
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