Background: The best alimentary and biliopancreatic limb (BPL) lengths in the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) still remain unclear. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of a BPL of 70 vs 120 cm, with a constant AL of 150 cm on long-term weight loss, remission of comorbidities, and supplementation needs after RYGB.
Patients and methods: A prospective randomized study of morbidly obese patients undergoing RYGB was performed. Patients were randomized into two groups: those patients undergoing RYGB with a BPL of 70 cm (BPL 70 cm) and those ones undergoing RYGB with a BPL of 120 cm (BPL 120 cm). BMI, excess BMI loss (EBMIL), remission of comorbidities and specific vitamin and mineral supplementation needs at 1, 2, and 5 years were analyzed.
Results: Two hundred fifty-three patients were included in each group. There were no significant differences in BMI, EBMIL and the remission of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and dyslipidemia between groups at 1, 2, and 5 years after surgery. Patients from group BPL 120 cm required greater specific supplementation of vitamin B12, folic acid, and vitamin A during all the follow-up.
Conclusion: A RYGB with 120 cm BPL does not achieve greater weight loss or remission of comorbidities than a RYGB with 70 cm BPL but is associated with greater deficiencies of vitamin B12, vitamin A, and folic acid.
Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT03607305. https://clinicaltrials.gov/.
Keywords: Alimentary limb length; Biliopancreatic limb length; Remission of comorbidities; Vitamin supplementation; Weight loss.