Alcoholism Risk Among Patients of Gastric Bypass

The risk of alcoholism is almost double for those who have undergone gastric bypass surgery for weight loss, compared with Lap-Band surgery, Swedish researchers revealed.

Dr. John Morton, a bariatric surgeon at the Stanford School of Medicine, observed that alcohol is metabolized by the presence of enzymes in the stomach.

In a patient who has undergone gastric bypass, alcohol makes its way to the intestines directly.

The villi on the inside of the intestines absorb higher concentrations of alcohol and therefore alcohol levels in the blood go up really fast. "A single glass of red wine can make a bypass patient legally intoxicated regardless of weight loss," Morton said.

Researchers are of the opinion that patients who plan to have the surgery must be advised to restrict their consumption of alcohol. "They shouldn't drink as much and they shouldn't drink and drive afterwards," Morton said.



Source: Medindia