In about 80 percent of patients, bariatric surgery improves blood sugar levels. Now, a new clue has been uncovered as to why this type of weight loss surgery is more effective at controlling blood glucose levels than only dietary remedies.
As a part of gastric bypass surgery, considerable weight loss is one component behind better glucose control. But it’s not the only reason. Researchers found that improvements in Type 2 glycemic control occurred even before weight loss from the surgery, which suggests there are other mechanisms at play.
The results of a recent study published in Science Translational Medicine showed that obese patients who have Type 2 diabetes and had gastric bypass general surgery had lower levels of branched-chain amino acids, aromatic amino acids phenylalanine, and tyrosine compared to another Type 2 diabetes group that lost weight through diet alone.
The study suggests that better improvements in blood sugar control in the gastric bypass surgery group was linked to a reduction in the aforementioned amino acids, and that these branched-chain amino acids are important biomarkers that should be examined in the treatment of diabetes. It’s important to note that an earlier independent heart study conducted by the Harvard/Broad Institute showed that aromatic amino acids and branched-chain acids served as biomarkers for developing Type 2 diabetes.
While further research needs to be conducted to understand how metabolic factors of gastric bypass surgery relates to a change in hormones or hormone activity, nonetheless, the study provides valuable information into controlling blood glucose levels.
Speak with your Naples weight loss surgeon for more information about this study, bariatric surgery, and its impact on glucose control.