Lower Baseline Serum Triglyceride Levels Are Associated With Higher Decrease in Body Mass Index After Laparoscopy Sleeve Gastrectomy Among Obese Patients

Aims To investigate the predictive value of baseline serum triglyceride (TG) levels for improvements of metabolism after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG). Methods 112 obese patients [body mass index (BMI) >= 35 kg/m(2)] underwent LSG and with complete information of anthropometric and metabolic parameters were divided into normal TG group (group A) and high TG group (group B), while group A had TG levels <= 1.7 mmol/L, and group B had TG levels > 1.7 mmol/L. The post-operative changes (Delta) in metabolic parameters between the two groups were compared. Results In the whole cohort, the metabolic parameters were significantly improved at 6 months after LSG. BMI and waist circumference (WC) decreased significantly in the two groups. The Delta BMI among group A and group B were 11.42 +/- 3.23 vs 9.13 +/- 2.77 kg/m(2) (p<0.001), respectively. Delta BMI was positively correlated with Delta WC (r=0.696, p<0.001), Delta fasting insulin level (r=0.440, p=0.002), Delta fasting serum C peptide level (r=0.453, p=0.002), and Delta homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance index (r=0.418, p=0.004) in group A. Compared with group B, group A had a significantly higher odds ratio (OR) of 2.83 (95% confidence interval [CI]1.25-6.38, p=0.012)and 2.73 (95% CI 1.11-6.72, p=0.029) for Delta BMI and Delta WC after adjustment for age and gender, respectively. Conclusions Obese patients with baseline TG levels under 1.7 mmol/L had greater loss of weight at six months follow-up later LSG. This finding suggests that baseline TG level may have a predictive value for weight loss, at least in the short-term follow-up.