Liver Fat Reduction After Gastric Banding and Associations with Changes in Insulin Sensitivity and β-Cell Function

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between changes in liver fat and changes in insulin sensitivity and β-cell function 2 years after gastric banding surgery.

Data included 23 adults with the surgery who had prediabetes or type 2 diabetes for less than 1 year and BMI 30 to 40 kg/m² at baseline. Body adiposity measures including liver fat content (LFC), insulin sensitivity (M/I), and β-cell responses (acute, steady-state, and arginine-stimulated maximum C-peptide) were assessed at baseline and 2 years after surgery. Regression models were used to assess associations adjusted for age and sex.

Two years after surgery, all measures of body adiposity, LFC, fasting and 2-hour glucose, and hemoglobin A1c significantly decreased; M/I significantly increased; and β-cell responses adjusted for M/I did not change significantly. Among adiposity measures, reduction in LFC had the strongest association with M/I increase (r = -0.61, P = 0.003). Among β-cell measures, change in LFC was associated with change in acute C-peptide response to arginine at maximal glycemic potentiation adjusted for M/I (r = 0.66, P = 0.007). Significant reductions in glycemic measures and increase in M/I were observed in individuals with LFC loss >2.5%.

Reduction in LFC after gastric banding surgery appears to be an important factor associated with long-term improvements in insulin sensitivity and glycemic profiles in adults with obesity and prediabetes or early type 2 diabetes.