Visceral fat area as a new predictor of short-term diabetes remission after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery in Chinese patients with a body mass index less than 35 kg/m2

Abstract

Background: Metabolic surgery has been proposed for inadequately controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in association with obesity. However, prediction of successful T2DM remission after surgery has not been clearly studied in Chinese patients. The objective of this study was to predict the outcome in those with T2DM after metabolic surgery to help in patient selection.

Methods: A retrospective review of prospectively collected data of 68 ethnic Chinese with mean body mass index (BMI) of 31.5 and T2DM were examined for the metabolic outcomes at 1 year after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). Visceral and abdominal subcutaneous fat areas were assessed using magnetic resonance imaging before and 1 year after RYGB. Remission was defined as a glycated hemoglobin (HbA1 c)<6.5% and no medications at 1 year. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify predictors.

Results: At 1 year after surgery, the BMI in the study group decreased from 31.5±3.6 to 24.5±2.5 kg/m2. Remission was achieved in 50 patients (73.5%) at 1 year. Compared with patients in the nonremission group, patients in the remission group had a shorter duration of diabetes, lower preoperative HbA1 c level, higher fasting C-peptide level, and more visceral fat area (VFA). Preoperative BMI and waist circumference did not differ between the 2 groups.

Conclusion: The metabolic improvement in T2DM after RYGB in the mildly obese is greater with a shorter duration of diabetes, higher fasting C-peptide. Those who have more visceral adiposity may obtain greater benefit from RYGB.

Keywords: Bariatric surgery; Gastric bypass; Insulin resistance; Intra-abdominal fat; Obesity.