Changes in blood lipid levels following silastic ring vertical gastroplasty

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of the Silastic Ring Vertical Gastroplasty (SRVG) operation on blood lipid levels in obese men and women during the first year following surgery. Methods: 25 patients (11 men and 14 women) age 17-50 (mean 33 years) who suffered from morbid obesity (BMI > 40, range 45.9 ± 4.7 kg/m²) underwent SRVG. Blood samples were collected before operation and 3, 6 and 12 months following surgery and tested for: triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL-C, LDL-C, VLDLC, and Lp(a). Results: Both men and women lost weight significantly. Mean BMI decreased from 48.0 to 32.5 kg/m² in men and from 44.3 to 29.0 kg/m² in women (P < 0.01). Blood lipid levels 1 year following surgery demonstrated the following changes: In women, triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL, VLDL cholesterol and Lp(a) decreased from 160.7 mg/dL to 67.7 mg/dL (P < 0.01), from 220 mg/dL to 189 mg/dL, from 138.3 mg/dL to 111 mg/dL, from 17 mg/dL to 12 mg/dL, and from 77.5 mg/dL to 18.5 mg/dL (P < 0.01), respectively, and HDL increased from 45 mg/dL to 50.5 mg/dL. In men, triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL, VLDL cholesterol and Lp(a) decreased from 246 mg/dL to 140 mg/dL (P < 0.01), from 206 mg/dL to 170 mg/dL (P < 0.01), from 134 mg/dL to 112 mg/dL (P < 0.05), from 25 mg/dL to 15 mg/dL (P < 0.01), and from 30.3 mg/dL to 11.6 mg/dL (P < 0.01), respectively, and HDL increased from 31.3 mg/dL to 37.4 mg/dL (P < 0.05). Conclusion: SRVG improved blood lipid profile in obese patients during the first year following surgery. Reduction in cholesterol and its fractions reaches statistical significance only in men.