Trial Comparing Elan Specialized Bariatric Supplements With Standard Multivitamins in Patients Undergoing Bariatric Procedures

A Double-Blinded Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Elan Specialized Bariatric Supplements With Standard Multivitamins in Patients Undergoing Sleeve Gastrectomy, Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass, and One-Anastomosis Gastric Bypass

Obesity has escalated to pandemic levels, impacting over 650 million adults globally and significantly contributing to the burden of non-communicable diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obstructive sleep apnea, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and infertility. The chronic, multifactorial nature of obesity presents substantial challenges for long-term management, as lifestyle modifications and pharmacotherapy often yield limited and transient success. In this context, Metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) has emerged as the most effective and enduring treatment for obesity, offering significant weight loss and marked improvement or remission of obesity-related comorbidities.

The most prevalent MBS procedures include sleeve gastrectomy (SG), Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), and one-anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB). While these interventions offer considerable metabolic advantages, they inherently cause significant modifications to gastrointestinal anatomy and physiology, which can predispose patients to long-term micronutrient deficiencies. These deficiencies can stem from reduced dietary intake, altered gastric acid secretion, decreased intrinsic factor production, and the bypassing of critical absorptive sites in the gastrointestinal tract. Commonly affected nutrients encompass iron, vitamin B12, Vitamin B6, folate, vitamin D, calcium, and zinc. If not effectively managed, these nutrient deficiencies can lead to anemia, secondary hyperparathyroidism, osteopenia, neurological complications, immune dysfunction, and impaired postoperative recovery.

Population-based recommended dietary allowances (RDAs) and tolerable upper intake levels (ULs) tend to underestimate the nutritional requirements for postoperative patients, as they are derived from healthy cohorts. Many standard formulations may fall short due to inadequate dosages, non-bioavailable forms, or poor tolerability, which can significantly impact patient adherence to supplementation regimens. Over-the-counter multivitamins, such as Centrum®, are designed for the general population and often lack the dosing, bioavailability, or elemental forms required for post-MBS physiology, particularly following bypass procedures.

The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) recommends 8-22 mg of elemental zinc per day, depending on the procedure, and the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders (IFSO) and the World Gastroenterology Organization (WGO) recommend up to 30 mg/day for OAGB patients. These values are below the national upper limit in Egypt, which is 25 mg/day.

Moreover, there is evidence indicating a discrepancy in nutrient deficiencies among different bariatric surgery patients; for instance, OAGB patients exhibit a greater prevalence of iron and zinc deficiencies compared to those undergoing RYGB or SG, thereby necessitating proportionally higher supplementation tailored to their specific needs.

Consequently, specialized supplements containing adjusted doses of iron, zinc, and copper, within or slightly exceeding international guideline recommendations, are proposed to address the heightened risk of deficiencies, particularly in MBS procedures such as RYGB and OAGB, which are both clinically necessary and scientifically supported. In response to these shortcomings, specialized MBS supplements have been formulated to meet the unique physiological requirements and anatomical changes associated with each surgical procedure. The Elan Bariatric Supplement line, featuring Elan Believe for sleeve gastrectomy, Elan Compass for Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, and Elan Supreme for omega-loop gastric bypass, illustrates this tailored approach. It combines procedure-specific formulations aimed at optimizing nutrient absorption, minimizing gastrointestinal side effects, and enhancing patient compliance.

Despite the theoretical benefits of these specialized formulations, robust evidence supporting their clinical superiority over standard multivitamins remains scarce. Randomized controlled trials are warranted to ascertain whether these tailored supplements lead to improved nutritional status, enhanced tolerability, and superior overall outcomes in the post-MBS population. The present study intends to bridge this gap by evaluating the incidence of micronutrient deficiencies, along with biochemical and clinical outcomes, and patient compliance over 12 months between individuals receiving specialized Elan supplements and those utilizing standard multivitamins following SG, RYGB, and OAGB. This trial will stratify its analysis based on the type of surgery to assess the differential impacts of supplementation per the distinct anatomical and absorptive characteristics of these three procedures.

Inclusion Criteria:

Eligible participants must be adults:

• Aged 18 to 65 years
• Capable of providing informed consent
• Willing to comply with study procedures and follow-up visits over 12 months.
• Candidates must have no prior history of MBS or gastrointestinal surgery and must be scheduled for one of the three aforementioned primary procedures.
• Both male and female patients will be considered, and no restrictions will be placed based on ethnicity or socioeconomic status.

Exclusion Criteria:

Exclusion criteria include:

• The presence of chronic conditions that may independently affect micronutrient metabolism or absorption, such as chronic kidney disease, inflammatory bowel disease, or hepatic insufficiency.
• Additional exclusion criteria include pregnancy or lactation at the time of enrollment
• Plans for pregnancy within the study period
• Active malignancy
• Any use of investigational drugs or supplements within the past 30 days.
• Patients undergoing revisional bariatric surgery or conversion procedures will also be excluded.