Background: Changes in satiety regulation are known to play a pivotal role in the weight loss effects of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and the mechanisms by which these changes occur are not entirely known. There are previous reports of the influence of GLP-1 to cause enhancement of satiation, but in regard to GLP-2, it remains unclear. This study aimed to determine whether there is a correlation between the levels of GLP-1 and GLP-2 and satiety regulation following RYGB.
Materials and methods: An exploratory prospective cohort study was made which enrolled 11 individuals who underwent RYGB and were followed-up for 12 months. GLP-1 and GLP-2 levels were determined before and after surgery and correlated with visual analogue scale scores for satiety.
Results: GLP-2 AUC after standard meal tolerance test (MTT) was significantly higher following surgery (945.3 ± 449.1 versus 1787.9 ± 602.7; p = 0.0037). Postoperatively, GLP-1 AUC presented a significant negative correlation with the mean score obtained in the first question of the visual analogue scale ("how hungry do you feel?") (p = 0.008); GLP-2 AUC presented a significant positive correlation with the mean score of the third ("how full do you feel?") question, and a significant positive correlation with the mean score achieved in the fourth question ("how much do you think you can eat?"), (p = 0.005 and p = 0.042, respectively).
Conclusion: GLP-1 and GLP-2 were significantly correlated with satiety assessment within this sample. Further research is necessary to confirm these findings.
Keywords: Bariatric surgery; Gastric bypass; Glucagon-like peptides; Obesity; Satiety response.