Profiles of atherosclerotic risk factors in gastrectomized men

Postprandial hyperglycemia is an established risk factor for atherosclerotic vascular diseases, and it is frequently observed in gastrectomized subjects. This study sought to examine whether other atherosclerotic risk factors are also common among gastrectomized subjects. The study population comprised of 44 non-diabetic men who previously underwent gastrectomy. The age- and body mass index-matched control population comprised of 278 non-diabetic men without gastrectomy. In addition to traditional atherosclerotic risk factors for atherosclerosis, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) were also compared between the groups. Fasting plasma glucose was not different between both groups, while glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was significantly higher in the gastrectomized men than in the control men. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were significantly higher, whereas low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) was lower in the gastrectomized men than in the control men. baPWV, hsCRP, triglycerides and insulin resistance (as per the homeostasis model assessment) were not different between groups. While levels of certain atherosclerotic risk factors, including HbA1c and blood pressure are higher among gastrectomized men, HDL-C and LDL-C were actually favorable. Additionally, levels of more emerging risk factors, such as hsCRP and baPWV were not altered among gastrectomized men.