Metabolic revitalization: exploring erythrocyte fatty acid profile following laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Obesity is linked to metabolic disorders. Bariatric surgery offers a promising therapeutic approach, but its impact on fatty acid (FA) profiles within erythrocytes and the associated clinical implications remain underexplored.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to assess changes in erythrocytes' membranes FA after Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy (LSG) and to correlate these alterations with clinical parameters.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Sixty-one patients with morbid obesity undergoing LSG and 32 healthy controls were enrolled. Erythrocytes' membranes FA were analyzed using gas chromatography. Clinical parameters were assessed, including BMI, blood pressure, and multiple biochemistry markers.

RESULTS

Bariatric intervention reduced BMI (41.1 to 32.0) and fat mass (54.1 to 35.2kg). Also, other anthropometric parameters improved significantly. Favorable changes in FA metabolism post LSG, potentially leading to a reduction in cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, were observed. The omega-3 Index (1.8 vs 3.0), and the eicosapentaenoic/arachidonic (0.1 vs 0.2) FA ratio increased after surgery. The dynamics of metabolism post-LSG, assessed by exploring the ratios of erythrocytes' FA concentration in baseline and 6 months after the surgery, with the corresponding ratios calculated for clinical parameters, evidenced the impact of linoleic (LA) on obesity reduction. The LA ratios increased along with the reduction of BMI (r=-0.32), fat mass (r=-0.39), and waist circumference (r=-0.33) proportions. The opposite relations of LA were held with Excess Weight Loss percentage (r=0.49), and Excess BMI Loss percentage (r=0.5).

CONCLUSIONS

The study underscores distinct post-LSG changes in erythrocytes' FA profiles potentially associated with reduced weight and BMI, improved inflammatory status, and lowered CVD risk.