Self-Prescribed Nutrition Supplements for Hair Loss Following Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy Bariatric Surgery: Extent of the Problem in a Cohort of Chinese Patients
December 2018
in “
Journal of Patan Academy of Health Sciences
”
TLDR Many Chinese patients lose hair after weight loss surgery, especially women, and taking iron and zinc on their own doesn't help.
In a 2018 study of 54 Chinese patients post-laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) bariatric surgery, 77.8% experienced hair loss, with all severe cases occurring in females. The onset of hair loss averaged at 3.43±1.36 months, ceasing at 8.59±3.38 months. Despite 15 patients using self-prescribed iron and zinc supplements, no benefits were observed. Female gender, low preoperative serum folic acid levels, and higher percentage of excess weight loss were significant risk factors for hair loss. The study concluded that hair loss is common after LSG surgery, particularly in females, and self-prescribed supplements are ineffective in addressing it. The study's limitations included a small sample size and potential bias from self-reporting.
