Medium/long term evaluation of lipid profile after bariatric surgery (gastric bypass versus sleeve gastrectomy)

Effects of Whey Protein, Omega-3 Fatty Acid and Roux-En-Y Gastric Bypass on Body Weight, Biochemical Parameters and Organ Functions in an Obese Rat Model: Experimental Research

PURPOSE

Extreme obesity (EO) is one of the biggest public health problems in the world and has grown considerably over the years. The aim of the study is to examine the effect of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), whey protein (WP), and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) supplementation applied to EO rats on weight loss, histopathological changes in internal organs and biochemical alterations.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Wistar albino female rats (n = 28) were used in the study and randomly divided into four groups. All rats were made obese by adding high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) to their drinking water. After the EO, WP and omega-3 PUFA supplementation was given and RYGB process was applied. At the end of the study, glucose, total cholesterol, HDL, VLDL, AST, ALT and uric acid changes and liver, kidney and pancreatic tissues were evaluated histopathologically.

RESULTS

WP and omega-3 PUFA supplementation decreased body weight (p > 0.05). Omega-3 PUFA and RYGB caused a decrease in total cholesterol (p < 0.05), WP decreased HDL (p < 0.05), WP and omega-3 PUFA caused an increase in ALT (p < 0.05). WP has been shown to have greater curative effects in rat liver and kidney tissues. It has been determined that RYGB causes necrosis in the liver and HFCS causes inflammation in the kidney.

CONCLUSION

In the study; the positive effects of WP, omega-3 PUFA and bariatric surgery on obesity and dyslipidemia have been demonstrated. With this result, it was determined that WP, omega-3 PUFA supplementation and bariatric surgery were not superior to each other.

The Effect of Bariatric Surgery on Circulating Levels of Lipoprotein (a): A Meta-analysis

Background

Obesity, especially severe obesity, is associated with a higher risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) morbidity and mortality. Bariatric surgery is a durable and effective weight loss therapy for patients with severe obesity and weight-related comorbidities. Elevated plasma levels of lipoprotein (a) (Lp(a)) are causally associated with ASCVD. The aim of this meta-analysis was to analyze whether bariatric surgery is associated with Lp(a) concentrations.

Methods

A literature search in PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science was performed from inception to May 1st, 2021. A random-effects model and the generic inverse variance weighting method were used to compensate for the heterogeneity of studies in terms of study design, treatment duration, and the characteristics of the studied populations. A random-effects metaregression model was used to explore the association with an estimated effect size. Evaluation of funnel plot, Begg's rank correlation, and Egger's weighted regression tests were used to assess the presence of publication bias in the meta-analysis.

Results

Meta-analysis of 13 studies including 1551 patients showed a significant decrease of circulating Lp(a) after bariatric surgery (SMD: -0.438, 95% CI: -0.702, -0.174, p < 0.001, I²: 94.05%). The results of the metaregression did not indicate any significant association between the changes in Lp(a) and duration of follow-up after surgery, reduction in body mass index, or baseline Lp(a) concentration. The reduction in circulating Lp(a) was robust in the leave-one-out sensitivity analysis.

Conclusion

Bariatric surgery significantly decreases circulating Lp(a) concentrations. This decrease may have a positive effect on ASCVD in obese patients.

Robotic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass: A Single Surgeon's Experience with 527 Consecutive Patients

Background and Objectives

Robotic bariatric surgery is increasingly adopted by surgeons. We present the surgical results of 527 consecutive patients who underwent robotic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) using the standard technique.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database was performed including 527 consecutive patients who underwent robotic RYGB between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2021.

Results

The mean age of the patients was 41 years, with a male/female sex distribution of 143/384 (27.1%/72.9%). Type 2 diabetes in the pre-operative period was diagnosed in 31% of patients. The median pre-operative body mass index (BMI) was 44.6 kg/m² (range, 35-64). The mean operation time was 134 min for robotic RYGB, including the docking process. Early (< 30 days) complications included ileus (0.2%), atelectasis (0.2%), thromboembolic (0.2%) events, and surgical-site infection (0.2%). No leakage or bleeding of the gastrojejunal and jejunojejunal anastomoses were recorded. Oral food intake was begun at 1.8 days on average. The average hospital stay was 2 days. Despite a range of BMI values, operation times and gastrojejunal anastomosis times did not show significant differences. There were no significant differences in mean operation time or mean gastrojejunal anastomosis time over the years.

Conclusions

The robotic approach is effective and safe for patients undergoing RYGB. This technique provides satisfactory results with short-term surgical outcomes. However, the real benefits of robotic RYGB should be further evaluated by well-conducted randomized trials. Even in difficult cases with higher BMI values, optimal operation times and similar operative efficiency can be obtained if a standard operation technique is applied.