Comparison of changes in lipid profile after bilio-intestinal bypass and gastric banding in patients with morbid obesity

Background: The presence of hypercholesterolemia is currently not considered a selection criteria for performing gastric restrictive or diversionary bariatric surgery. Methods: We prospectively investigated the effects of the billo-intestinal bypass (BI-bypass) with a wide cholecysto-jejunal anastomosis and of adjustable gastric banding (AGB) on blood lipid concentrations in obese patients. To clarify the mechanism of the hypocholesterolemic effect of the Bl-bypass, daily fecal sterol excretion was measured by gas-liquid chromatography (GLC). Results: At 1 year after Bl-bypass compared to baseline, the hypercholesterolemic (n=18) and the normocholesterolemic (n=19) patients significantly reduced total (-38% and -27%, respectively), LDL (47% and -24%, respectively) and HDL (-11% and -13%, respectively) cholesterol and total /HDL cholesterol ratio (-25% and -13%, respectively). At 1 year after AGB, the total / HDL cholesterol ratio was significantly decreased (-11%) compared to baseline in hypercholesterolemic (n=12) but not in normocholesterolemic (n=6) patients, while total and LDL cholesterol were not affected in both groups. At 3 years after Bl-bypass compared to baseline, the hypercholesterolemic (n=9) and the normocholesterolemic (n=11) patients significantly reduced total (-43% and -28%, respectively) and LDL (-53% and -29%, respectively) cholesterol and total / HDL cholesterol ratio (-38% and -21%, respectively). The BI-bypass induced a significant (P<0.005; n=7) 6-fold increase in mean fecal cholesterol output. Conclusions: The Bl-bypass but not the AGB leads to a persistent and marked beneficial effect on blood LDL cholesterol associated with an increased cholesterol fecal output. Bl-bypass but not AGB is indicated in morbidly obese patients with hypercholesterolemia.