Late-onset copper and zinc deficiency following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB): A case report and review of the literature.

Authors

José Juan Flores-Patiño, Claudia Maya-Salazar, René Daniel Vera-Ibarra, Karina Hernández-Ayala, José A Arízaga-Berber, José M Gastélum-Cano, Diego Delgado-Zaldívar, Fernando Gil-Lopez, Carlos Torruco-Sotelo

Published in

Nutrition in clinical practice : official publication of the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition. Jun 25, 2026. Epub Jun 25, 2026.

Abstract

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery is a highly effective technique for treating obesity. However, it may result in nutritional deficiencies. Here we report the case of a 55-year-old woman presenting with chronic diarrhea lasting 2 years, accompanied by lower limb paresthesia, macrocytic anemia, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia. Her medical history included hypothyroidism treated with levothyroxine, and RYGB surgery performed in 2014, with intermittent micronutrient supplementation. The patient developed copper and zinc deficiencies. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a patient presenting with both deficiencies simultaneously with pancytopenia 10 years after RYGB. This case underscores the need to verify adherence to existing preoperative screening recommendations involving preoperative micronutrient measurements to assess micronutrient deficiency risks and multidisciplinary postoperative follow-up, the importance of monitoring micronutrient levels, close follow-up of both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients and evaluating adherence to supplementation regimens.

PMID:
42347905
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 25 Jun 2026.

Read full publication at:
Please sign in to see all details.

Stats

1-terrible, 9-excellent. How would you rate this publication? Sign in in to submit your rating.

Post a comment

You need to be signed in to post comments. You can sign in here.

Comments

There are no comments yet.