Redox Response in Postoperative Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery: New Insights into Cardiovascular Risk Markers

Background/Objectives: Metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) promotes improved redox response and weight loss and reduced cardiovascular risk. However, there is still no consensus on whether some of these results may be affected years after the surgery. This study evaluated the association between redox response and cardiovascular risk markers following MBS. Methods: Patients (n = 91) of both sexes who underwent MBS 2-7 years ago were evaluated. Antioxidant enzymatic activity (catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione-S-transferase, and glutathione peroxidase) and oxidative damage (malondialdehyde and carbonylated protein) were quantified. Blood pressure, glucose, insulin, triglyceride/glucose (TyG) index, LDL-C, HDL-C, non-HDL-C, triglyceride (TG), and cholesterol were analyzed. Principal component analysis (PCA) and generalized linear models were used. Results: The participants had a mean age of 39.82 ± 7.87 years, and a current body mass index of 29.53 ± 5.01 kg/m². The PCA identified two patterns: enzymatic antioxidant activity (PC1) and oxidative damage (PC2). No association was found between PC1 and cardiovascular risk markers. A positive association was observed between PC2 and diastolic blood pressure (β: 6.79, 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 1.97; 11.61), TyG index (β: 0.13, 95% CI: 0.05; 0.21), total cholesterol (β: 15.17, 95% CI: 3.61; 26.72), TG (β: 25.88, 95% CI: 8.58; 43.18; p = 0.003), and non-HDL-C (β: 10.91, 95% CI: 0.02; 21.88). Conclusions: Oxidative damage markers were positively associated with diastolic blood pressure, TyG index, TG, total cholesterol, and non-HDL-C levels after MBS. However, further studies are required to confirm and elucidate these findings.