The influence of a 3-month weight reduction therapy with Orlistat on serum vitamin B12 and folic acid concentration in obese women

• Published in: International Journal of Obesity 2006-06, Vol.30 (6), p.1017-1018
• Main Authors: Holecki, M, Zahorska-Markiewicz, B, Nieszporek, T, Mizia-Stec, K, Olszanecka-Glinianowicz, M, Zak-Gołąb, A, Kocełak, P, Więcek, A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acids; Adult; Anti-Obesity Agents - pharmacology; Anti-Obesity Agents - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Body composition; Body fat; Body Height; Body Mass Index; Body weight; Body Weight - drug effects; Case-Control Studies; Epidemiology; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; Folic acid; Folic Acid - blood; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Health Promotion and Disease Prevention; Homocysteine; Humans; Impedance; Internal Medicine; Lactones - pharmacology; Lactones - therapeutic use; Medical sciences; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Metabolic Diseases; Middle Aged; Obesity; Obesity - blood; Obesity - drug therapy; Obesity - physiopathology; Overweight; Pathophysiology; Public Health; short-communication; Surgery; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Vitamin B; Vitamin B 12 - blood; Weight control; Weight Loss
• ISSN: 0307-0565; 1476-5497
• DOI: 10.1038/sj.ijo.0803214

Objective: Serum folic acid, but not the vitamin B 12 concentration, was found to be significantly lower in obese subjects than in the control ones. Design: The aim of this study was to examine the levels of serum vitamin B 12 and folic acid in obese women before and after weight reduction therapy with Orlistat in comparison to healthy controls with normal body weight. Subjects: Twenty obese women participated in a 3-month weight reduction therapy. The control group consisted of 20 healthy women. Measurements: Body weight and height were measured and BMI was calculated. Body composition was analyzed with the impedance method using a Bodystat analyzer. In all patients before and after 3-month weight reduction therapy, serum concentrations of folic acid and vitamin B 12 were assessed. Results: In obese women, serum concentrations of folic acid and vitamin B 12 did not change significantly after 3-month weight reduction therapy with Orlistat.