Wondering about malabsorption

Megan M.
on 1/31/12 9:06 am - Canada

Can anyone say approximately what percentage of nutrition is lost to malabsorption? I guess I'm wondering if a person eats 1000 calories in a day, would the body only absorb 800 of those calories (numbers are an example), or 600? Just curious.

Had RNY surgery July 22/11, St. Joe's Hamilton, with the awesome Dr. Scott Gmora. Had abdominoplasty August 2/13, Scarborough, with equally awesome Dr. Michael Kreidstein.

Tammy G.
on 1/31/12 9:12 am - London, Canada

RNY on 01/25/12

Good question Megan, I am curious as well!

Tammy

Kimmer75
on 1/31/12 9:20 am - London, Canada

Tammy where was your surgery performed? How are you doing since surgery?

Tammy G.
on 1/31/12 9:23 am - London, Canada

RNY on 01/25/12

At TEGH, and I am doing fabulously!! I am finding it a full time job trying to get everything in but I think that is normal at my stage. Feeling awesome and knock on wood haven't had any complication thus far. Thanks for asking.

Tammy

Kimmer75
on 1/31/12 9:26 am - London, Canada

Glad to hear you're doing so well!! Can I ask why so far away? It says you're from London ( I'm in London as well). I assumed I would be sent to Guelph, or Hamilton.

Tammy G.
on 1/31/12 9:42 am - London, Canada

RNY on 01/25/12

When I started reading the boards I quickly found out that Toronto wasn't as back logged as Guelph was. I called the Bariatric Registry and they told me that my file was at Guelph, so I called Guelph and I very gingerly asked them since my file had just arrived there, could I please have it sent back to the bariatric registry as I had no support in Guelph and tonnes in Toronto. Once I knew it was back at the Bariatric Registry I called and confirmed that it was being sent onto TWH, I didn't have any problems with this, they said no problem, however I have heard of some people who were denied the request. Good Luck.

Tammy

JennR
on 1/31/12 9:38 am

VSG on 10/21/11

I don't know the answer to your question but I think it is probably different for anyone. I don't know that I have seen anything to suggest it has ever been quantified.

(deactivated member)
on 1/31/12 10:06 am - Canada

RNY on 07/27/11

I read it was anywhere between 50-75% absorption depending on how long the intestine is that connects to the pouch.

And for the life of me I can't remember where I read it - but I was researching protein needs for RNY patients.

PatXYZ
on 1/31/12 10:21 am

The only hard number I know of is that at one year post-op the average RNYer malabsorbs about 37.9% of the fat they consume. This is from a 2005 study done by Dr. Gagner comparing the malabsorption of fat between RNY and the DS by looking at the components of RNYers stools. I know with RNY that the malabsorption lessens over time and due to this the nutritionists do not recommend eating in a way that takes the malabsorption into consideration (ie - allow more calories due to the malabsorption).