Long-term impact of sleeve gastrectomy on lipid profile: A meta-analysis

Introduction The global increase in obesity has spurred a rise in bariatric surgeries, now deemed one of the most effective treatments for obesity and its associated metabolic issues, including dyslipidemia. Numerous studies have shown that bariatric surgery, particularly Sleeve Gastrectomy (SG), leads to significant improvements in obesity-related comorbidities such as diabetes, hypertension, fatty liver, sleep apnea, and arthritis. Objective This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effect of SG on the lipid profiles. Data source We searched PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar from inception to May 20th, 2024. Studies selection Studies were deemed eligible if they involved individuals with severe obesity undergoing SG and reported data on lipid profile at baseline and follow-up for at least 5 years. Data extraction Two independent reviewers extracted data and assessed the risk of bias. Results Of the 4922 articles identified from our database search, 15 articles measuring lipid profiles following SG met our inclusion criteria for the analysis. SG showed a nonsignificant effect on mean TC at ≥ 5 years compared with baseline (Weighted mean difference (WMD): −4.944 mg/dl, 95 % CI: −19.78 9.901, p = 0.514; I²:97.95), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C (WMD: −3.843 mg/dl, 95 % CI: −10.092, 2.407, 95 % PI: −28.917, 21.232 p = 0.228; I²:87.85). However, there was a significant reduction in the mean TG (WMD: −43.079 mg/dl, 95 % CI: −51.735, −34.422, 95 % PI: −76.111, −10.046 p < 0.001; I²:83.72), and increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (WMD: 11.182 mg/dl, 95 % CI: 6.609, 15.755, 95 % PI: −8.497, 30.861 p < 0.001; I²:91.43). Conclusion SG significantly improved and sustained the effect on TG and HDL-C at 5-years and beyond, post-surgery with no effect on LDL-C and TC.