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Acute and 1-month effect of small-volume suction lipectomy on insulin sensitivity and cardiovascular risk

International Journal of Obesity volume 30, pages 1217–1222 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective:

The most common surgical procedure for obesity is liposuction, the majority of which are small-volume procedures. The effect of large-volume liposuction on cardiovascular risk and insulin sensitivity has been variable. This study was performed to evaluate the effect of the more common, smaller-volume liposuction on insulin sensitivity, inflammatory mediators, and cardiovascular risk factors.

Subjects and study design:

In all, 15 overweight or obese premenopausal women underwent metabolic evaluation prior to, 1 day following and 1 month following suction lipectomy of the abdomen. Metabolic evaluation included assessment of free fatty acids, glucose, insulin, insulin sensitivity by frequently sampled i.v. glucose tolerance test, and adipokines (IL-6, angiotensin II, leptin, PAI-1, adiponectin, and TNF-α).

Results:

Free fatty acids did not change acutely although there was an almost 30% decrease in free fatty acids at 1 month. Fasting insulin levels decreased at one month from 8.3±1.1 to 5.6±1.3 μU/ml (P=0.006). Insulin sensitivity by i.v. glucose tolerance test did not change at 1 month (4.0±0.8 to 5.0±0.7, P=0.12) although with subgroup analysis insulin sensitivity improved in obese but not overweight participants. Several adipokines worsened acutely (IL-6 increased 15 fold and angiotensin II increased 67%), but there was no change in PAI-1, and other adipokines (adiponectin, leptin, and TNF-α) decreased. At the 1-month follow-up, all adipokines were similar to baseline.

Conclusion:

This study provides little evidence supporting increased or decreased cardiovascular risk although there is evidence supporting improved insulin sensitivity at one month, especially in obese women.

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Acknowledgements

Supported M01-RR-59, National Institutes of Health.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Dermatology, Otolaryngology, and Pathology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Arkansas, USA

    D A Davis & D M Pellowski

  2. Department of Dermatology, Lovelace Hospital, Albuquerque, NM, USA

    D A Davis

  3. Department of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA

    W T Donahoo

Authors
  1. D A Davis
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  2. D M Pellowski
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Correspondence to W T Donahoo.

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Davis, D., Pellowski, D., Davis, D. et al. Acute and 1-month effect of small-volume suction lipectomy on insulin sensitivity and cardiovascular risk. Int J Obes 30, 1217–1222 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0803120

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