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Bariatric Surgery

Baseline TSH levels and short-term weight loss after different procedures of bariatric surgery

Abstract

Background

Bariatric surgery is a valuable therapeutic option in the treatment of obesity but the outcomes show a large subject-to-subject variability yet to be explained. Thyroid function may represent an involved factor and we have only few controversial data about its influence.

Subjects/methods

We retrospectively assessed using a longitudinal approach the relation between baseline TSH levels and short-term (6 and 12 months) weight loss in 387 euthyroid patients who underwent laparoscopic gastric banding (LAGB; n = 187) or sleeve gastrectomy (SG; n = 200).

Results

After LAGB, patients with low-normal TSH levels (0.40–1.40 mUI/L) had higher percent total weight loss, ∆BMI and percent excess weight loss when compared to patients with normal (1.41–2.48 mUI/L) and high-normal (2.49–4.00 mUI/L) TSH (p < 0.05). Conversely, no association was detected after SG (p = 0.17). The multivariable regression analysis showed that also baseline BMI (6–12 months) and HOMA2-IR (only at 6 months) were independently associated with the outcomes.

Conclusions

TSH levels may influence the short-term weight loss response after LAGB. The lack of association after SG suggests that the influence of baseline endocrine and metabolic factors may not be relevant for procedures with greater and more immediate calorie intake restriction.

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Correspondence to Gianluca Perseghin.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethics

The protocol (TIREOBARIATRIC) was approved by the ethics committee della Provincia di Monza e Brianza.

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Informed consent has been obtained from each patient or subject after full explanation of the purpose and nature of all procedures used.

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Muraca, E., Oltolini, A., Pizzi, M. et al. Baseline TSH levels and short-term weight loss after different procedures of bariatric surgery. Int J Obes 45, 326–330 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-020-00665-6

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