Go Ad-Free
logoThe People's Perspective on Medicine

Higher Vitamin D Levels Linked to Lower Likelihood of Infection after Gastric Bypass

Overweight people who undergo gastric bypass surgery do much better with higher vitamin D levels. In a study at Massachusetts General Hospital, vitamin D levels were measured before surgery. Patients with the lowest levels, below 30 ng/ml, were three times as likely to develop an infection after surgery. This is a particular concern because so many obese patients are deficient in vitamin D. No one knows, however, whether pre-surgical vitamin D supplementation will prevent such complications.

[JAMA Surgery, online Nov. 27, 2013]

Rate this article
star-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-empty
5- 1 rating
About the Author
Terry Graedon, PhD, is a medical anthropologist and co-host of The People’s Pharmacy radio show, co-author of The People’s Pharmacy syndicated newspaper columns and numerous books, and co-founder of The People’s Pharmacy website. Terry taught in the Duke University School of Nursing and was an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology. She is a Fellow of the Society of Applied Anthropology. Terry is one of the country's leading authorities on the science behind folk remedies..
Tired of the ads on our website?

Now you can browse our website completely ad-free for just $5 / month. Stay up to date on breaking health news and support our work without the distraction of advertisements.

Browse our website ad-free
Join over 150,000 Subscribers at The People's Pharmacy

We're empowering you to make wise decisions about your own health, by providing you with essential health information about both medical and alternative treatment options.