Benefits of a protein diet to improve the gastrointestinal tract in patients after bariatric surgery

Abstract

Bariatric surgery or gastroplasty is a post-surgical method that with the anatomical alteration of the gastrointestinal tract, the patient starts to receive the diet that will be evolved starting with the restricted liquid consistency, common liquid, pasty liquid and free diet. The present study aimed to carry out an in-depth study in the literature on the improvement of the gastrointestinal tract in patients after bariatric surgery through a protein diet. Qualitative approaches of a basic nature and systematic review of the literature were used based on studies and data collection inductively in scientific articles and bibliography, in the literature, National Center for Biotechnology Information (PubMed), Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), and Web of Science – Periodicals CAPES, with publications from the last 10 years in Portuguese and English. The study showed that, as a result of not ingesting protein to rebuild the injured tissue, the deficiency of several vitamins and minerals are noticeable as a decrease in B vitamins and metals such as iron, which is why gastrointestinal transport proteins are in decline, if there is no protein demand necessary for tissue reconstruction, the functionality of the gastrointestinal tract is compromised. The study emphasizes the importance of a professional nutritionist in the conduct of the postoperative period, making the professional observe the particularity of each surgical technique in order to avoid protein-caloric malnutrition and nutritional deficiencies common in cases of bariatric surgery.