In-and-Out Molecular Changes Linked to the Type 2 Diabetes Remission after Bariatric Surgery: An Influence of Gut Microbes on Mitochondria Metabolism.

Different kinds of gastrointestinal tract modulations known as "bariatric surgery" are actually the most effective treatment for obesity and associated co-morbidities, such as type 2 diabetes (T2DM). The potential causes of those effects have yet to be explained. In our study, we focused on molecular changes evoked by laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy leading to T2DM remission. Two complementary metabolomics techniques, namely, liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS), were used to study those effects in a group of 20 obese patients with T2DM selected from a cohort of 372 obese individuals who underwent bariatric surgery and did not receive anti-diabetic treatment afterward. Modified levels of carnitines, lipids, amino acids (including BCAA) and α- and ß-hydroxybutyric acids were detected. Presented alterations suggest a major role of mitochondria activity in T2DM remission process. Moreover, some of the observed metabolites suggest that changes in gut microbiota composition may also correlate with the tempo of diabetes recovery. Additional analyses confirmed a relationship between biochemical and clinical parameters and the aforementioned metabolites, thereby, highlighting a role of mitochondria and microbes. Our data suggests that there is a previously undescribed relationship between mitochondria and gut microbiota, which changes after the bariatric surgery. More investigations are needed to confirm and explore the observed findings.

Nutritional optic neuropathy following bariatric surgery.

Bariatric procedures, associated with gastrointestinal malabsorption of vitamins and microelements, may constitute a risk factor for nutritional optic neuropathy (NON). We present a case of a 34-year-old female patient who developed bilateral NON after sleeve gastrectomy. Despite postoperative ophthalmological supervision, 10 months after the procedure the woman presented with a bilateral decrease in visual acuity down to 0.8, bilateral visual field loss and abnormal visual evoked potential recordings. Laboratory abnormalities included decreased serum concentration of vitamin B12 (161 pg/ml). Treatment was based on intramuscular injections of vitamin B12 (1000 units per day). After 1 week of the treatment, we observed more than a three-fold increase in the serum concentration of vitamin B12 and resolution of the bilateral symptoms of NON. The incidence of NON is likely to increase due to the growing number of these bariatric procedures performed worldwide. Therefore, all persons subjected to such surgery should receive long-term ophthalmological follow-up and supplementation with vitamins and microelements.