Carolina Ferreira Nicoletti

New look at nutritional care for obese patient candidates for bariatric surgery

BACKGROUND The combination of preoperative deficiencies and the restrictions and malabsorption possibly induced by bariatric surgery could lead patients to experience important nutritional deficits during the late postoperative period. Our objective was to characterize the eating, anthropometric, and biochemical profiles of obese candidates for bariatric surgery at a bariatric surgery center of a university hospital. METHODS A retrospective study with the analysis of medical records of candidates for bariatric surgery from 2007 to 2008 was performed. A total of 80 adult patients, aged 45 ± 11 years, were included in the present study. RESULTS The mean patient weight was 145 ± 24 kg, and the mean body mass index was 54 ± 8 kg/m(2). Of the 80 patients, 78% had ≥1 co-morbidities related to obesity. The reported daily energy intake before surgery was 1981 ± 882 kcal, with 48% ± 11% consisting of carbohydrate, 29% ± 8% of lipids, and 23% ± 8% of protein. The mean number of daily meals was 4 ± 1. Patients with a greater body mass index ingested a smaller amount of calories per kilogram of current weight. The occurrence of hyperglycemia, hyperuricemia, and dyslipidemia and of nutritional deficiencies, among them magnesium (19%), vitamin A (15%), vitamin C (16%), iron (9%), β-carotene (3%), and vitamin B12 (3%), was high. CONCLUSION The high occurrence of micronutrient deficiency detected by biochemical analysis in morbidly obese candidates for bariatric surgery, representing a disabsorptive process, might involve a poorer prognosis during the late postoperative period. A preoperative evaluation of the nutritional parameters and the food intake pattern is recommended for these patients, together with the necessary interventions.

Protein and amino acid status before and after bariatric surgery: A 12-month follow-up study

BACKGROUND Patients with obesity submitted to bariatric surgery present altered ingestion of macronutrient and micronutrient levels and nutrients deficiency. The objective of this study was to evaluate the protein and amino acid nutritional status of obese adults before and after bariatric surgery, with emphasis on plasma free amino acids. METHODS Thirty obese women were submitted to Roux-en-Y gastric shunt (bariatric surgery). Food and protein intake, anthropometric and bioimpedance data (body composition analysis), and serum total protein, albumin, and plasma amino acids levels were collected before the surgery (preoperative) and 3, 6, and 12 months after the surgical procedure. RESULTS The mean protein intake was 47±2 g/day. The total weight loss during the study period was 39±8 kg; the fat-free mass decreased 7±5 kg. The amino acid profile showed increased concentrations of most amino acids 3 months after surgery; at 6 months, glutamic acid, serine, arginine, alanine, methionine, valine, phenylalanine, isoleucine, and tyrosine concentrations decreased. The total protein and albumin concentrations dropped along the 12-month follow-up. CONCLUSION The amino acid profile changes after RYGB are evidence that total protein and albumin levels may not be good indicators of protein profile after the surgery.

Bioelectrical impedance vector analysis in obese women before and after bariatric surgery: Changes in body composition

OBJECTIVE Because of the inefficacy of standard methods for the evaluation of body composition of grade III obese individuals, it is difficult to analyze the quality of weight loss after bariatric surgery in these patients. Electrical bioimpedance vector analysis and the RXc graph uses crude resistance (R) and reactance (Xc) values, like components of the Z vector, to monitor variations in body fluid and the nutritional status of obese individuals. Using bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA) and the RXc graph, the objective of the present study was to evaluate long-term changes in weight and body composition of obese women after Roux-en-Y bariatric surgery. METHODS A study was conducted on 43 grade III obese women submitted to bariatric surgery. Anthropometric and bioimpedance (800 mA-50 kHz) data were obtained during the preoperative period and 1, 2, 3, and 4 y after surgery. BIVA was performed by plotting resistance and reactance values corrected for body height (R/H and Xc/H, Ohm/m) as bivariates on the RXc graph. BIVA software was used to plot the vectors of the RXc plane. RESULTS Surgery promoted changes in body composition, with a reduction of fat mass and of fat-free mass. During the postoperative period, the vectors demonstrated migration to the right lower quadrant of the graph, corresponding to the classification of cachexia and water retention. CONCLUSION Weight loss due to surgery results in an important reduction of fat-free mass characterized by the position of most individuals in the cachexia quadrant throughout the postoperative period.

Red meat intolerance in patients submitted to gastric bypass: a 4-year follow-up study

BACKGROUND Bariatric surgery provides significant weight reduction; however, it may result in food intolerance followed by gastrointestinal complications that may lead to nutritional deficiencies. This study evaluated the influence of red meat intolerance on the dietary pattern, biochemical indicators, and clinical symptoms after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). METHODS This retrospective study evaluated patients 4 years after RYGB. The patients were divided into 2 groups: patients with and without red meat intolerance, and data for the following were collected: food intake, anthropometric data, biochemical data, and presence of nausea, vomiting, weakness, weak nails, and hair loss. The difference between groups in the times postoperative was determined by ANOVA. RESULTS Of the 72 patients included in the study, 63 were evaluated during the first postoperative year, 45 during the second, 56 during the third, and 41 during the fourth. Red meat intolerance was observed in 49.2%, 42.2%, 46.4%, and 39% of the patients after 1, 2, 3, and 4 years, respectively. After 1 year, the intolerant group showed lower calorie, carbohydrate, and iron intake. After 3 years, tolerant patients showed weight regain (2.9 ± 5.3 kg), while the intolerant ones remained stable. There was no difference in the presence of clinical symptoms or biochemical indicators between groups. CONCLUSION Red meat intolerance is frequent after bariatric surgery and may alter energy, iron intake, and weight loss; however, it is not associated with the presence of clinical symptoms and biochemical profile.

UCP1 and UCP3 Expression Is Associated with Lipid and Carbohydrate Oxidation and Body Composition

Background/Objective Uncoupling proteins (UCPs) are located in the inner membrane of mitochondria. These proteins participate in thermogenesis and energy expenditure. This study aimed to evaluate how UCP1 and UCP3 expression influences substrate oxidation and elicits possible changes in body composition in patients submitted to bariatric surgery. Subjects/Methods This is a longitudinal study comprising 13 women with obesity grade III that underwent bariatric surgery and 10 healthy weight individuals (control group). Body composition was assessed by bioelectrical impedance. Carbohydrate and fat oxidation was determined by indirect calorimetry. Subcutaneous adipose tissue was collected for gene expression analysis. QPCR was used to evaluate UCP1 and UCP3 expression. Results Obese patients and the control group differed significantly in terms of lipid and carbohydrate oxidation. Six months after bariatric surgery, the differences disappeared. Lipid oxidation correlated with the percentage of fat mass in the postoperative period. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the UCP1 and UCP3 genes contributed to lipid and carbohydrate oxidation. Additionally, UCP3 expression was associated with BMI, percentage of lean body mass, and percentage of mass in the postoperative period. Conclusions UCP1 and UCP3 expression is associated with lipid and carbohydrate oxidation in patients submitted to bariatric surgery. In addition, UCP3 participates in body composition modulation six months postoperatively.

UCP1 -3826 A>G polymorphism affects weight, fat mass, and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus in grade III obese patients

OBJECTIVE We investigated whether or not the UCP1 -3826 A>G polymorphism is associated with obesity and related metabolic disorders in grade III obese patients. METHODS 150 obese patients (body mass index ≥35 kg/m(2)) who were candidates for bariatric surgery were studied. Weight (kg), body mass index (kg/m(2)); fat free mass (kg), fat mass (kg), energy intake (kcal), level of physical activity, plasma levels of glucose, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), triacylglycerols, and the prevalence of comorbidities associated with obesity were collected from medical records. Polymorphism rs1800592 genotyping was performed through allelic discrimination method in real time polymerase chain reaction using the TaqMan predesigned SNP Genotyping Assays kits. The t test was done to determine if genotypes of each polymorphism are associated with anthropometric and body composition variables. Linear regression models were used for age, sex, height, physical activity, and energy intake in weight and body composition variations (P < 0.05). RESULTS Among these 150 individuals (47.2 ± 10.5 y, 80% women) the distribution of AA, AG, and GG was 41.3%, 45.3%, and 13.4%, respectively. Weight and body fat were lower in individuals who were carriers of a mutated allele G. It was observed that mutated homozygotes (GG) had a lower frequency of type 2 diabetes mellitus compared with those of wild allele (AA+AG). CONCLUSIONS UCP1 -3826 A>G polymorphism is associated with weight, body fat mass, and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus in obese individuals candidates for bariatric surgery.

WEIGHT LOSS AND METABOLIC OUTCOMES 12 MONTHS AFTER ROUX-EN-Y GASTRIC BYPASS IN A POPULATION OF SOUTHEASTERN BRAZIL.

UNLABELLED BACKGROUNGD: previous outcome research in bariatric surgery has to document positive changes in co-morbidities associated with obesity. OBJECTIVE the study aimed report a description of the impact of bariatric surgery on weight loss and on the resolution of diseases associated with obesity in patients followed up for 12 months in the public health service of São Paulo/Brazil. METHODS the study was conducted on the data for 598 selected patients with grade III obesity subjected to Rouxen- Y gastric bypass evaluated postoperatively and 6 and 12 months after surgery. Anthropometric, demographic and biochemical data and personal history were determined at each time point. Serum glucose, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triglycerides were determined in the biochemical evaluation. Data were analyzed statistically by the Chi-square test, by ANOVA followed by the Bonferroni post-test and by the Student t-test for independent data, significance set at p < 0.05. RESULTS weight loss of 45.5 ± 13.7kg (33.5%) was observed during the first year after surgery. Serum glucose, total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol were reduced during the first six months after surgery and the values were maintained up to 12 months, whereas weight and triglycerides were reduced throughout the study period. A reduced prevalence of diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemia was observed after surgery (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is an important procedure for weight loss and control of comorbidities such as diabetes and dyslipidemia at least during the first postoperative year.

Bariatric Surgery and Precision Nutrition

This review provides a literature overview of new findings relating nutritional genomics and bariatric surgery. It also describes the importance of nutritional genomics concepts in personalized bariatric management. It includes a discussion of the potential role bariatric surgery plays in altering the three pillars of nutritional genomics: nutrigenetics, nutrigenomics, and epigenetics. We present studies that show the effect of each patient’s genetic and epigenetic variables on the response to surgical weight loss treatment. We include investigations that demonstrate the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms with obesity phenotypes and their influence on weight loss after bariatric surgery. We also present reports on how significant weight loss induced by bariatric surgery impacts telomere length, and we discuss studies on the existence of an epigenetic signature associated with surgery outcomes and specific gene methylation profile, which may help to predict weight loss after a surgical procedure. Finally, we show articles which evidence that bariatric surgery may affect expression of numerous genes involved in different metabolic pathways and consequently induce functional and taxonomic changes in gut microbial communities. The role nutritional genomics plays in responses to weight loss after bariatric surgery is evident. Better understanding of the molecular pathways involved in this process is necessary for successful weight management and maintenance.

Effect of Weight Loss on Bone Mineral Density Determined by Ultrasound of Phalanges in Obese Women After Roux-en-y Gastric Bypass: Conflicting Results With Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry

The rapid weight loss that occurs in obese patients submitted to Roux-en-y gastric bypass (RYGB) as well as the changes in dietary pattern and the intestinal malabsorption result in changes in bone mineral density (BMD). The objective of the present study was to assess the changes in BMD after the weight loss induced by RYGB using ultrasound of the phalanges and compare the results with those obtained by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). We conducted a 1-yr prospective longitudinal study on women with grade III obesity submitted to RYGB. Anthropometric (weight, height, body mass index, and abdominal circumference) and body composition measurements by electrical bioimpedance, assessment of food consumption by 24-h recall, biochemical evaluation, and assessment of BMD by ultrasonography of the phalanges and DXA (BMD values are from the 33% radius site) were performed during the preoperative period and 3, 6, and 12 mo after surgery. The mixed-effects linear regression model was used to analyze the effect of postoperative time on the variable of interest, and the kappa coefficient (p < 0.05) was used to compare the concordance of the methods used for BMD evaluation. Twenty-nine patients were included in the study. During the 1-yr follow-up, a reduction of 39 ± 8 kg (71 ± 15% of excess weight) and 29 ± 7 kg of fat mass was observed. Calcium and zinc concentrations were reduced after 12 mo. No difference in caffeine, calcium, or sodium consumption was observed between the preoperative and postoperative periods. Analysis of BMD by ultrasonography of the phalanges 1 yr after surgery showed increased values of amplitude-dependent speed of sound (2064.6 ± 59.4 vs 2154.7 ± 63 m/s; p < 0.001) and ultrasound bone profile index (0.73 ± 0.13 vs 0.76 ± 0.14; p < 0.001). Analysis of BMD by DXA showed a reduction of BMD values (0.6 ± 0.04 vs 0.57 ± 0.05 g/cm³; p < 0.001) in the sixth month and maintenance of the values from the sixth to the 12th month. At the end of the study, there was no concordance between the methods for BMD analysis. This study showed improvement in bone quality and quantity assessed by ultrasonography. However, the DXA results showed a reduction in BMD after 12 mo of RYGB. Thus, the BMD measurement methods were discordant.

UCP2 expression is associated with weight loss after hypocaloric diet intervention

Background/Objectives:Although energy restriction contributes to weight loss, it may also reduce energy expenditure, limiting the success of weight loss in the long term. Studies have described how genetics contributes to the development of obesity, and uncoupling proteins 1 and 2 (UCP1 and UCP2) and beta-3-adrenoceptor (ADRB3) have been implicated in the metabolic pathways that culminate in this condition. This study aimed to evaluate how the UCP1, UCP2 and ADRB3 genes influence weight loss in severely obese women submitted to hypocaloric dietary intervention.Subjects/Methods:This longitudinal study included 21 women divided into two groups: Group 1 (Dietary intervention (G1)) consisted of 11 individuals with severe obesity (body mass index (BMI) ⩾40 kg/m2), selected for dietary intervention and Group 2 (Control (G2)) consisted of 10 normal-weight women (BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 kg/m2). Evaluation included weight (kg), height (m), waist circumference (cm), body composition, resting metabolic rate (RMR, kcal) and abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue collection. The dietary intervention required that G1 patients remained hospitalized in the university hospital for 6 weeks receiving a hypocaloric diet (1200 kcal per day). The statistical analyses included t-test for paired samples, Spearman correlation and multivariate linear regressions, with the level of significance set at P<0.05.Results:Weight (155.0±31.4–146.5±27.8 kg), BMI (58.5±10.5–55.3±9.2 kg/m2), fat-free mass (65.4±8.6–63.1±7.1 kg), fat mass (89.5±23.0–83.4±21.0 kg) and RMR (2511.6±386.1–2324.0±416.4 kcal per day) decreased significantly after dietary intervention. Multiple regression analyses showed that UCP2 expression contributed to weight loss after dietary intervention (P=0.05).Conclusions:UCP2 expression is associated with weight loss after hypocaloric diet intervention.