Low-Calorie Ketogenic Diet with Continuous Positive Airway Pressure to Alleviate Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome in Patients with Obesity Scheduled for Bariatric/Metabolic Surgery: a Pilot, Prospective, Randomized Multicenter Comparative Study.

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and obesity are frequently associated with hypertension (HTN), dyslipidemia (DLP), and insulin resistance (IR). In patients with obesity and OSAS scheduled for bariatric surgery (BS), guidelines recommend at least 4 weeks of preoperative continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). Low-calorie ketogenic diets (LCKDs) promote pre-BS weight loss (WL) and improve HTN, DLP, and IR. However, it is unclear whether pre-BS LCKD with CPAP improves OSAS more than CPAP alone. We assessed the clinical advantage of pre-BS CPAP and LCKD in patients with obesity and OSAS. Seventy patients with obesity and OSAS were randomly assigned to CPAP or CPAP+LCKD groups for 4 weeks. The effect of each intervention on the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was the primary endpoint. WL, C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, HTN, DLP, and IR were secondary endpoints. AHI scores improved significantly in both groups (CPAP, p=0.0231; CPAP+LCKD, p=0.0272). However, combining CPAP and LCKD registered no advantage on the AHI score (p=0.863). Furthermore, body weight, CRP levels, and systolic/diastolic blood pressure were significantly reduced in the CPAP+LCKD group after 4 weeks (p=0.0052, p=0.0161, p=0.0008, and p=0.0007 vs baseline, respectively), and CPAP+LCKD had a greater impact on CRP levels than CPAP alone (p=0.0329). The CPAP+LCKD group also registered a significant reduction in serum cholesterol, LDL, and triglyceride levels (p=0.0183, p=0.0198, and p<0.001, respectively). Combined with CPAP, LCKD-induced WL seems to not have a significant incremental effect on AHI, HTN, DLP, and IR but lower CRP levels demonstrated a positive impact on chronic inflammatory status.

Telematics pre-operative psychological and nutritional assessment in candidates for bariatric surgery during COVID-19 phase 2: a pilot prospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: Obesity represents a risk factor for COVID-19 infection. Therefore, in order to reduce COVID-19 related comorbidities in obese population a continuation of obesity treatment is needed. However, bariatric procedures were postponed because of COVID-19 restrictions, delaying treatment for obese patients seeking for surgery. This study aimed to test the feasibility of a telematics pre-operative psychological and nutritional assessment as an alternative tool during COVID-19 outbreak. METHODS: Twenty-six patients were contacted. The pre-operative assessment consisted in 3-weekly one-to-one online sessions and a final in-person multidisciplinary session. The protocol feasibility has been evaluated on the following outcome: rejection rate (%), dropout rate (%), compliance and satisfaction's degree. RESULTS: Eighteen participants completed the whole protocol and 10% dropped-out. Seventy-two percent of participants obtained an excess weight loss ≥5%. All participants were satisfied of the telematics assessment. CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 emergency has changed standard hospital procedures and this study could represent a landmark for an online pre-operative assessment method to adopt in case of new restrictions.

Weight Loss and Eating Pattern 7 Years After Sleeve Gastrectomy: Experience of a Bariatric Center of Excellence.

PURPOSE: Report the analysis from a single center series of consecutive primary sleeve gastrectomy (SG) on the factors affecting weight loss at long term. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients submitted to primary SG with a follow-up of 7 years were screened. Weight loss was evaluated with %excess weight loss (%EWL) and %excess BMI loss (%BMIL). Weight regain (WR) was defined as in increase of 25% of the obtained %EWL and insufficient weight loss (IWL) as loss < 50% EWL. Eating behaviors were evaluated with 7 days record (7dR). All the variables potentially affecting the weight loss were cross-matched for correlation. The study population was divided in three groups: group A (WR), group B (IWL), and group C (sustained weight loss) for comparative analysis. RESULTS: A total of 86 patients (21 M/65 F) with a preoperative BMI of 47.08 ± 6.15 kg/m2 were evaluated. Cumulative 7 years weight loss was as follows: 61.66 ± 22.69% EWL and 32 ± 9% EBMIL. A total of 4.6% had an IWL while 27.9% a WR. The analysis showed a significant difference among the daily calories and fats consuming, number of meals, physical activity, grazing/sweet eating habits, and adherence to follow-up (p < 0.05) between groups A and C. Cox hazard demonstrated a significant risk (p < 0.05) to WR in case of adherence to follow-up shorter than 48 months, high daily calories, and fats intake (hazard ratio (HR) range 5-9). Eight patients (9.3%) had a surgical revision. CONCLUSION: Our data demonstrated that long-term results (7 years) of SG are strongly related to eating habits and patient's behaviors.

Alcohol consumption after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy: 1-year results.

INTRODUCTION: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (SG) represents, at present, the most performed bariatric procedure worldwide with excellent long-term results on weight loss and comorbidities control. After the gastrectomy procedure, together with hormonal modification, several changes in taste and habits occur, including the potential modification in alcohol consumption. The aim of this prospective study was to determine the frequency and the amount of alcohol use before and after SG using a modified version of the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) at 1-year follow-up and eventually to evaluate relationships between different ages and sexes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 142 patients were prospectively enrolled and evaluated before and 1 year after SG with a modified AUDIT. The exclusion criteria were as follows: history of alcohol abuse, presence of psychopathology or cognitive impairments, diabetes mellitus type II decompensated, or previous gastrointestinal, liver, and pancreatic resective surgery. Subgroup analyses were performed between male and female and between under and over 40 years old. RESULTS: The median AUDIT score decreased from 2.70 (range 1-18) before surgery to 1.38 (range 1-7) after 1 year of SG, indicating a marked reduction in alcohol use. The most consumed alcoholic drink was beer (36.6%/n = 52) while after surgery the consumption of beer decreased considerably (21.1%/n = 30). The frequency of alcohol consumption also decreased: at baseline 45% of patients consumed alcoholic drinks "from 2 to 4 times per month", whereas 26 and 39.4% consumed alcohol "never" and "less than once a month," respectively. After surgery, nobody consumed more then six alcoholic drinks. No differences were found between the subgroups in terms of alcohol consumption and social behavior. CONCLUSIONS: The alcohol preference is modified and decreased 1 year after SG and this could be related to the strict nutritional follow-up and to the hormonal changes. Studies with large samples and long-term follow-up are needed to confirm our data. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

Food Intake and Changes in Eating Behavior After Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) results in reduced calorie intake and weight loss. Whether patients consume the same types of food before and after surgery or whether they reduce the volume and calorie density of the foods they consume remains unknown. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the changes in daily caloric and macronutrient intake after LSG and the relation between changes of taste and food tolerance over 2 years. METHODS: Thirty morbidly obese patients with median body mass index (BMI) of 43.9 kg/m(2) (39.5-57.3) were prospectively enrolled prior to LSG. Weight, BMI, %EWL, weight loss percentage (%WL), and daily intake were evaluated preoperatively at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after surgery along with a questionnaire evaluating food choices, quality of eating, tolerance of certain types of food, frequency of vomiting, and changes in taste. RESULTS: The median %EWL and %WL at 12 and 24 months was 65 % (33.9-93.6 %), 27.3 % (14.2-45.5 %) and 71.5 % (39.6-101.1 %), 31 % (19.1-50.3 %) respectively. Six months after surgery, the daily caloric intake reduced by 68 % and the reduction was maintained until 24 months. The median score of the eating questionnaire was 18 (10-27) at 6 months, 22 (16-26) at 12 months, and 23 (10-27) at 24 months, suggesting that the quality of nutrition improved over time. At 6, 12, and 24 months, 75 % of the patients reported changes in taste with reduced interest in sweets, high fat food, and alcoholic drinks. However, at 24 months, 20 % of patients reported a heightened interest in sweets compared to 12 months previously. CONCLUSIONS: LSG reduced calorie intake both through volume of food and the calorie density of the food consumed. The mechanisms for the changes in food preferences may involve both unconditioned and conditioned effects. The influence of dietary counseling on learning which foods are consumed still requires further exploration.

Very low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet before bariatric surgery: prospective evaluation of a sequential diet.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the effectiveness of a sequential diet regimen termed the obese preoperative diet (OPOD) in morbidly obese patients with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) scheduled for laparoscopic bariatric surgery. METHODS: Fifty patients (body mass index 53.5 ± 8.4 kg/m(2)) scheduled for bariatric surgery, including 14 with T2DM, were prospectively enrolled and followed the OPOD regimen: a very low-calorie ketogenic diet for 10 days, followed by a very low-calorie diet for 10 days, and then a low-calorie diet for 10 days. Patients were evaluated at baseline (T0) and after 10 days (T1), 20 days (T2), and 30 days (T3). RESULTS: Body weight, body mass index, waist circumference, and neck circumference were significantly lower at T1, T2, and T3 than at T0 in the 48 patients who completed the OPOD. Two patients discontinued the OPOD after 4-7 days. In patients with T2DM, fasting plasma glucose levels decreased significantly, enabling reduction of diabetic medications. Plasma and urine ketone levels increased at T1 but were all <1 mmol/L, and hunger decreased during the diet period. CONCLUSIONS: OPOD, including 10 days of a VLCKD, was safe and effective in morbidly obese patients, and it seems to be promising in morbidly obese patients with and without T2DM scheduled for laparoscopic bariatric surgery.