Elevated Interleukin-6 Is Associated with Successful Weight Loss 3 Months Postlaparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy

Bariatric surgery poses an ever-increasing importance in the effective and long-lasting treatment of obesity, a condition strongly associated with inflammation and increased risk of other diseases and health problems. In obesity-related inflammation, maintaining a balance between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines is crucial. In this study, we examined early effects of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) on inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in obese patients, and assessed their effect on postoperative weight loss.

This prospective cohort study was conducted from September 2022 till June 2023. Fifty obese adults were enrolled for LSG. All patients underwent assessments of body measurements, as well as levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and TNF-alpha at baseline and 3 months postsurgery. We developed a decision tree model to predict the success of weight loss.

At 3 months postsurgery, patients lost 18.9 ± 6.9 kg of excess body weight. A significant decrease was observed for IL-10 (p < 0.0001), simultaneously with a significant increase in IL-6 (p < 0.0001). We found that high IL-6 (> 1.169 pg/mL) levels could contribute to an effective weight loss among patients with a baseline BMI less than 47.46 kg/m².

Study revealed that 3 months after bariatric surgery, inflammation persists, and its markers significantly influence postoperative weight loss, as indicated by BMI range. Distinct behaviors of IL-10 and IL-6 in relation to obesity underline the necessity of considering individual cytokine profiles when evaluating bariatric surgery outcomes.