Changes in serum ghrelin and resistin levels after sleeve gastrectomy versus one anastomosis gastric bypass: prospective cohort study

Introduction: Humoral factors and neural mechanisms play a central role in the pathogenesis of obesity and in weight loss following bariatric surgery. Although various hormones and adipokines, including ghrelin and resistin, are linked to obesity, studies analyzing the changes in fasting ghrelin and resistin levels in patients following one anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB) are lacking. Aim: The authors aimed to investigate resistin and ghrelin levels before and after two commonly used bariatric procedures with different mechanisms of action: sleeve gastrectomy (SG) and OAGB. Patients and methods: Fasting serum ghrelin and resistin levels were evaluated by using ELISA in a nonrandomized, prospective cohort study for the pattern of changes in the preoperative period and 1 week, 1 month, 3 months and, 12 months after surgery in age and sex-matched patients with BMI ≥40 kg/m2 undergoing either SG (n=40) or OAGB (n=40). Their relationships with demographic parameters such as body weight, BMI, presence of T2DM, HbA1C, and Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) index were also evaluated. Results: OAGB was superior in weight control compared to the SG group. There were significant differences in resistin and ghrelin levels between the OAGB and SG groups. Ghrelin decreased more in the SG group than the preoperative values. This change in ghrelin levels was more significant at 1 year after SG [preoperative mean (range) level of 334.2 (36.6–972.1) pg/ml decreased to 84 (9.1–227) pg/ml at 1 year] whereas in the OAGB group no significant change was observed [preoperative mean (range) level of 310 (146–548) pg/ml decreased to 264 (112–418) pg/ml at 1 year]. Resistin levels decreased in both groups, especially after 3 months and onward following both operations [the mean (range) resistin levels were 2.6 (0.87–5.4) ng/ml and decreased to 1.1 (0.5–2.4) ng/ml in the SG group vs 2.48 (0.89–6.43) ng/ml decreased to 0.72 (0.35–1.8) ng/ml in OAGB group at 1 year], which was in parallel with changes in HOMA-IR index, body weight, and BMI changes at 1st year. HOMA-IR index changes were similar, but more prominent after OAGB. OAGB was als3 three months and onward), and HOMA-IR changes. Conclusion: This is the first study to compare fasting ghrelin and resistin levels after OAGB and SG. Although similar changes were observed, ghrelin changes were more prominent after SG, whereas resistin were observed after OAGB. OAGB was superior in T2DM control, which was in parallel with weight loss, fasting resistin levels, and HOMA-IR changes suggesting a possible effect of resistin after OAGB in glucose metabolism and insulin resistance.