Sustained coronary-risk-factor reduction after gastric bypass for morbid obesity

Lipids and clinical changes including diabetes and hypertension were monitored in morbidly obese patients after Roux-Y gastric bypass. Total cholesterol (Chol), high-density-lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and triglycerides at 1 and at 5-7 y postoperatively in 33 patients and at 1 y in 23 patients (including apolipoproteins A-I and B) were compared with preoperative concentrations. Mean concentrations of Chol and both apolipoproteins were unchanged. Elevated serum triglycerides became normal, and reduced concentrations persisted at 5-7 y in men (p less than 0.025). HDL-cholesterol concentrations increased at 1 y (p less than 0.01) and remained higher at 5-7 y in women. Ratios of Chol to HDL cholesterol were lower at 1 y (p less than 0.01) in both men and women. Diabetes (9 patients) and hypertension (22 patients) also were reduced at 1 y (p less than 0.01) and remained lower at 5-7 y. A mean 61% of excess weight was lost in 1 y whereas a 12% weight gain occurred by 5-7 y. The beneficial changes in most coronary risk factors lasted 5-7 y after surgery.