Changes in bone turnover markers 6-12 months after bariatric surgery

A rise in bone turnover markers (BTM) after bariatric surgery predicts poor bone health years later. This study explored factors associated with BTM and changes in BTM after bariatric surgery. Inclusion criteria were subjects 18 to 65 years of age with morbid obesity undergoing bariatric surgery. All data were measured before and 6 and 12 months after surgery. The study included 104 subjects: women/men: 83/21; mean age 43.1 (SD 8.4) years; BMI: 38.8 kg/m² (SD 3.8). Surgery with Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and sleeve gastrectomy (SG) was performed in 84 (81%) and 20 (19%) subjects, respectively. From before to 6-12 months after surgery, procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptid (P1NP) increased by 45.6 µg/L (95% CI 41.5-50.0, p < 0.001), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) by 10 U/L (95% CI 7-14, p < 0.001). The increases were significantly larger after RYGB than after SG. The APOE- Ɛ3 allele was associated with low levels of BTM and high levels of leptin. There was an unfavourable increase in BTM after bariatric surgery. SG compared to RYGB and the presence of the APOE-Ɛ3 allele were associated with less unfavourable effects. The study emphasises the importance of optimal prophylactic interventions after bariatric surgery to prevent osteoporosis.