Copper Deficiency After Bariatric Surgery Can Be Misdiagnosed

For obese individuals, losing weight via bariatric surgery can result in positive and healthful changes, such as the normalization of blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels. However, some post-gastric bypass patients do not receive adequate medical follow-up that can result in long-term negative health effects, including nutrient deficiencies such as copper. Dr. Nana Gletsu Miller PhD, an assistant professor at the School of Public Health at Emory University and ACTSI investigator, found in a recent study of 155 patients who underwent gastric bypass in 1999 that 12 percent of subjects displayed a severe deficiency in copper. Read more...