Morbid obesity, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, metabolic syndrome and bariatric surgery

Objectives: The objectives of the present study are: 1) to assess protein changes in patients diagnosed with morbid obesity (MO) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or steatohepatitis (NASH); 2) to assess the likely reversibility of these entities after bariatric surgery, and 3) to analyze their progression seven years after the gastric bypass. Material and methods: We retrospectively analyzed the data from 190 patients, 150 women (79%) and 40 men (21 %) diagnosed with MO and surgically treated at our Hospital (Capella's gastric bypass). Mean age of the patients was 36.5 years (range: 18.5-54.5). Anthropometric values are gathered: body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and biochemistry: insulin (INS), glucose (GLU), total proteins (TP), albumin (ALB), transferrin (TRF), ferritin (FER), prealbumin (PBA), retinol binding protein (RBP) and C reactive protein (CRP). The HOMA index was calculated before the bypass and at the following follow-up periods after bypass: 6,12,60 and 84 months. Results: Abdominal ultrasound suggesting NAFLD or NASH was found in 34.7% (n = 66; 52 women and 14 men) of MO patients surgically treated. Ninety patients (47.3 %; 67 women and 23 men) presented risk factors for metabolic syndrome (MS). All patients with possible liver dysfunction had MS. Before the bypass, we found increased levels of: BMI, WC, CRP, GLU, INS and HOMA index and changes in TP, ALB, PBA, RBP, FER and TRF levels. The first set of parameters start to decrease within 6 months after surgical bypass and at the same time the changes in protein levels start to face off and remain stable at 84 months. Conclusions: Weight loss due to bariatric surgery represents an effective method of fighting MO and its associated comorbidities (NAFLD, NASH, hyperinsulinemia, hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia and components of the metabolic syndrome).