The early effect of the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass on hormones involved in body weight regulation and glucose metabolism.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the early effect of Roux-en-Y (RYGB) gastric bypass on hormones involved in body weight regulation and glucose metabolism. SIGNIFICANT BACKGROUND DATA: The RYGB is an effective bariatric procedure for which the mechanism of action has not been elucidated yet. Reports of hormonal changes after RYGB suggest a possible endocrine effect of the operation; however, it is unknown whether these changes are the cause or rather the effect of surgically induced weight loss. We speculated that if the mechanism of action of the RYGB involves an endocrine effect, then hormonal changes should occur early after surgery, prior to substantial body weight changes.


METHODS
Ten patients with a mean preoperative body mass index (BMI) of 46.2 kg/m (40-53 kg/m) underwent laparoscopic RYGB. Six patients had type 2 diabetes treated by oral hypoglycemic agents. Preoperatively and 3 weeks following surgery, all patients were tested for fasting glucose, insulin, glucagon, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), leptin, gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP), glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), cholecystokinin (CCK), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), corticosterone, and neuropeptide Y (NPY).


RESULTS
Changes in mean BMI were rather minimal (43.2 kg/m; P = not significant), but there was a significant decrease in blood glucose (P = 0.005), insulin (P = 0.02), IGF-1 (P < 0.05), leptin (P = 0.001), and an increase in ACTH levels (P = 0.01). The other hormones were not significantly changed by surgery. All the 6 diabetic patients had normal glucose and insulin levels and did not require medications after surgery. The RYGB reduced GIP levels in diabetic patients (P < 0.01), whereas no changes in GIP levels were found in nondiabetics.


CONCLUSIONS
Roux-en-Y gastric bypass determines considerable hormonal changes before significant BMI changes take place. These results support the hypothesis of an endocrine effect as the possible mechanism of action of RYGB.
Rubino
Francesco
F
IRCAD-EITS, Strasbourg, France.
Gagner
Michel
M
Gentileschi
Paolo
P
Kini
Subhash
S
Fukuyama
Shoji
S
Feng
John
J
Diamond
Ed
E
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D000713:Anastomosis, Roux-en-Y; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002766:Cholecystokinin / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015390:Gastric Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D005749:Gastric Inhibitory Polypeptide / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D005768:Gastrointestinal Hormones / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D020738:Leptin / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011336:Probability; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013002:Somatomedins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D015431:Weight Loss
D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D005768:Gastrointestinal Hormones; D020738:Leptin; D013002:Somatomedins; D005749:Gastric Inhibitory Polypeptide; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D002766:Cholecystokinin