Bariatric surgery can also help prevent diabetes and heart disease

Written By: Editorial Team | Updated : June 15, 2015 9:57 PM IST

Researchers have pointed out that in addition to weight loss, bariatric surgery also has positive effects on diabetes and heart disease. Professor Fredrik Backhed, in collaboration with Randy Seeley and coworkers from the University of Cincinnati in the US, has shown that the positive effects of bariatric surgery are likely caused by the surgery-induced increase in bile acids. The study focuses on a specific receptor called FXR, which is involved in bile acid signaling.

Fredrik Backhed said their study shows that signaling through FXR is essential for the beneficial effects of the surgery to be achieved. This is a major breakthrough in understanding how bariatric surgery affects metabolism and in the development of new treatment strategies. In this study, mice with or without the FXR gene underwent an operation termed vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) in which approximately 80 percent of the stomach was removed. The surgical procedure is the same as that performed in humans. (Read: Bariatric surgery a new hope for obese diabetics)

The researchers observed that the operation promoted weight loss and improved glucose metabolism in mice with FXR while the operation had no effect in mice that lacked FXR. This study also showed that VSG resulted in changes in the gut microbiota, a potentially important finding given that Fredrik Backhed's research group has previously demonstrated that the intestinal bacterial flora is altered in obesity and diabetes. (Read: Bariatric surgery nothing cosmetic about this weight loss procedure)

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The study has been published online in the journal Nature.

Bariatric surgery: Does it help you lose weight?

It isn't a shortcut to weight loss

People who believe that it is a short cut for weight loss are generally not the ones who need it. This is for people who have honestly tried to lose weight and tried various gyms, diets, have gone and have lost weight which keeps coming back.

Typically, bariatric surgery is advised for those patients who are at least 25 to 30 kilos overweight with BMI 32.5 or above. People with severe diabetes, hypertension or obstructive sleep apnoea associated with obesity are also likely candidates. Women who have irregular periods and are unable to conceive due to obesity can also opt for the surgery.

Bariatric surgery can be performed on all kinds of patients except if they have an unstable heart condition or untreated angina, or are psychologically unstable in which case they don't understand/appreciate what is required after bariatric surgery and will not follow-up.

Role in treatment of Diabetes

Bariatric surgery plays an important role in treatment of Type 2 diabetes by changing the hormonal levels in the blood. The insulin that is produced in the body becomes sufficient.

Insulin resistance is increased and blood sugar is controlled. Over 80 % of the patients after the surgery will have normal blood sugar without medicines which is very significant because worldwide 60% of patients have uncontrolled blood sugar levels even with medicines. (Read: Bariatric surgery: Does it help you lose weight? (Expert Speak))

With inputs from ANI

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