Gut bacteria may decrease weight loss from bariatric surgery

What do you think about this?

Date:

March 6, 2015

Source:

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

Summary:

Some patients do not experience the optimal weight loss from bariatric surgery. The presence of a specific methane gas-producing organism in the gastrointestinal tract may account for a decrease in optimal weight loss, according to new research.

The benefits of weight loss surgery, along with a treatment plan that includes exercise and dietary changes, are well documented. In addition to a significant decrease in body mass, many patients find their risk factors for heart disease are drastically lowered and blood sugar regulation is improved for those with Type 2 diabetes.

Some patients, however, do not experience the optimal weight loss from bariatric surgery. The presence of a specific methane gas-producing organism in the gastrointestinal tract may account for a decrease in optimal weight loss, according to new research by Ruchi Mathur, MD, director of the Diabetes Outpatient Treatment and Education Center at Cedars-Sinai.

"We looked at 156 obese adults who either had Roux-en-Y bypass surgery or received a gastric sleeve. Four months after surgery we gave them a breath test, which provides a way of measuring gases produced by microbes in the gut," said Mathur. "We found that those whose breath test revealed higher concentrations of both methane and hydrogen were the ones who had the lowest percentage of weight loss and lowest reduction in BMI (body mass index) when compared to others in the study."

The methane-producing microorganism methanobrevibacter smithii is the biggest maker of methane in the gut, says Mathur, and may be the culprit thwarting significant weight loss in bariatric patient. Mathur and her colleagues are conducting further studies to explore the role this organism plays in human metabolism.

While that research continues, bariatric patients may still have options to improve weight loss after surgery.

"Identifying individuals with this pattern of intestinal gas production may allow for interventions through diet. In the future there may be therapeutic drugs that can improve a patient's post-surgical course and help them achieve optimal weight loss," said Mathur.

The study, "Intestinal Methane Production is Associated with Decreased Weight Loss Following Bariatric Surgery" was done in collaboration with the Mayo Clinic. The paper is being presented by Mathur Thursday, March 5, at the 97th annual meeting of the Endocrine Society in San Diego.

Story Source:

The above story is based on materials provided by Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.

Interesting.

Get a fecal transplant from your skinniest friend....I did! Lost 114% of my excess weight and keeping it off easily. Love my new skinny poo.

@@Kindle, what on earth are you talking about!!??? :-)

I developed a C. diff infection 6 weeks post op from antibiotics I was taking for a tooth root abcess. After two months of failed attempts to get rid of it with medications, I had a fecal transplant...instant cure! But they are also looking at fecal transplants for Crohn's disease, IBD and obesity.

Here's my "story"...

http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/303173-fecal-transplant-scheduled/?hl=+fecal%20+transplant

and Here's another thread about using FMT for obesity...

http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/263748-skinny-peoples-poop-may-hold-the-disgusting-key-to-weight-loss/page-3?hl=%2Bfecal#entry3710633

Edited March 8, 201511 yr by Kindle

Thank you bladefox and Kindle for sharing this information. Definitely an eye opener and something we should all be aware of should something not be right with our bodies.

Kindle, i am so glad that you were cured!

I have heard about fecal transplants recently and really enjoyed your story Kindle. Now, outside of the c-diff, did you lose the weight because of the poo transplant or the surgery AND do you now eat different with a skinny gene?