# Weight reduction among females undergoing laparoscopic ventral hernia repair: The role of Calcium and Vitamin D3

## TL;DR

Supplementing vitamin D and calcium helped obese women lose more weight before hernia surgery, leading to better surgical outcomes.

## Contribution

This study shows that vitamin D and calcium supplementation can improve weight loss and surgical outcomes in obese women.

## Key findings

- Women taking vitamin D and calcium lost more weight (11.8kg) compared to those without supplementation (6.8kg).
- Group-A had a greater BMI reduction and shorter surgery time and hospital stay compared to Group-B.

## Abstract

To evaluate the role of Vitamin-D and calcium supplementation on preoperative weight reduction in obese women before laparoscopic ventral hernia repair.

This double-blind clinical trial was conducted at the affiliated health centers of King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia from January 2021 to December 2021. It included forty-five obese women aged 24-56 years, with body mass index (BMI) of 34.0–48.0kg/m2. They were randomly allocated into two groups; the Group-A (N=22) included obese women who received supplementation of 5000IU cholecalciferol (Vitamin-D3), and 1000mg calcium daily for 12 months, while the Group-B (N=23) received no treatment. Measurement of change in weight and BMI and comparison of their pre-operative weight reduction, laparoscopic operative time, and length of hospital stay was done.

There were no differences in patients’ biographic data between the two groups. During the study, Vitamin-D level in the patients increased and there was a significant positive association with weight loss. In group-A, the mean weight loss was 11.8±3.5 kg. At the end of first year, their BMI decreased from 36.1±1.6kg/m2 at baseline to 29.7±2.6 kg/m2, whereas in-group-B, the mean weight loss was 6.8±3.1 kg and their BMI decreased from 36.9±2.69kg/m2 at baseline to 32.7±0.93kg/m2. The operation time and the length of hospital stay were shorter in group-A (107 vs.128.min) and (3 vs. 5 days) respectively as compared to Group-B.

Vitamin-D and calcium supplementation contributes to a remarkable weight reduction of preoperative obese female patients, which in turn is associated with significantly better outcome of laparoscopic repair of ventral hernia.