Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Probiotics Improve Outcomes After Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery: A Prospective Randomized Trial

Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery volume 13, pages 1198–1204 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

Introduction

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RNYGB) surgery offers an effective and enduring treatment for morbid obesity. Gastric bypass may alter gastrointestinal (GI) flora possibly resulting in bacterial overgrowth and dysmotility. Our hypothesis was that daily use of probiotics would improve GI outcomes after RNYGB.

Methods

Forty-four patients undergoing RNYGB were randomized to either a probiotic or control group; 2.4 billion colonies of Lactobacillus were administered daily postoperatively to the probiotic group. The outcomes of H2 levels indicative of bacterial overgrowth, GI-related quality of life (GIQoL), serologies, and weight loss were measured preoperatively and at 3 and 6 months postoperatively. Categorical variables were analyzed by χ 2 test and continuous variables were analyzed by t test with a p < 0.05 for significance.

Results

At 6 months, a statistically significant reduction in bacterial overgrowth was achieved in the probiotic group with a preoperative to postoperative change of sum H 2 part per million (probiotics = −32.13, controls = 0.80). Surprisingly, the probiotic group attained significantly greater percent excess weight loss than that of control group at 6 weeks (controls = 25.5%, probiotic = 29.9%) and 3 months (38.55%, 47.68%). This trend also continued but was not significant at 6 months (60.78%, 67.15%). The probiotic group had significantly higher postoperative vitamin B12 levels than the control group. Both probiotic and control groups significantly improved their GIQoL.

Conclusion

In this novel study, probiotic administration improves bacterial overgrowth, vitamin B12 availability, and weight loss after RNYGB. These data may provide further evidence that altering the GI microbiota can influence weight loss.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4

References

  1. Bleich S, Cutler D, Murray C, Adams A. Why is the developed world obese. Ann Rev Public Health 2008;29:273–279.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. CDC National Center for Health Statistics. New CDC Study Finds No Increase in Obesity Among Adults; But Levels Still High. CDC National Center for Health Statistics, 2007.

  3. McTigue KM, Harris R, Hemphill B, et al. Screening and interventions for obesity in adults: summary of the evidence for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Ann Intern Med 2003;139(11):933–949.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Christou NV, Sampalis JS, Liberman M, et al. Surgery decreases long-term mortality, morbidity, and health care use in morbidly obese patients. Ann Surg 2004;240(3):416–423. discussion 423–424. doi:10.1097/01.sla.0000137343.63376.19.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Gustavsson S, Ilstrup DM, Morrison P, Kelly KA. Roux-Y stasis syndrome after gastrectomy. Am J Surg 1988;155(3):490–494. doi:10.1016/S0002-9610(88)80120-X.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Saltzman JR, Russell RM. Nutritional consequences of intestinal bacterial overgrowth. Compr Ther 1994;20(9):523–530.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Dallal RM, Cottam D. “Candy cane” Roux syndrome—a possible complication after gastric bypass surgery. Surg Obes Relat Dis 2007;3(3):408–410. doi:10.1016/j.soard.2007.02.011.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Husebye E. The patterns of small bowel motility: physiology and implications in organic disease and functional disorders. Neurogastroenterol Motil 1999;11(3):141–161. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2982.1999.00147.x.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Murphy MF, Sourial NA, Burman JF, Doyle DV, Tabaqchali S, Mollin DL. Megaloblastic anaemia due to vitamin B12 deficiency caused by small intestinal bacterial overgrowth: possible role of vitamin B12 analogues. Br J Haematol 1986;62(1):7–12. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2141.1986.tb02894.x.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Almeida JA, Kim R, Stoita A, McIver CJ, Kurtovic J, Riordan SM. Lactose malabsorption in the elderly: role of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. Scand J Gastroenterol 2008;43(2):146–154. doi:10.1080/00365520701676617.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Halsted CH. The small intestine in vitamin B12 and folate deficiency. Nutr Rev 1975;33(2):33–37.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Fromm H, Sarva RP, Ravitch MM, McJunkin B, Farivar S, Amin P. Effects of jejunoileal bypass on the enterohepatic circulation of bile acids, bacterial flora in the upper small intestine, and absorption of vitamin B12. Metabolism 1983;32(12):1133–1141. doi:10.1016/0026-0495(83)90060-4.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Skroubis G, Sakellaropoulos G, Pouggouras K, Mead N, Nikiforidis G, Kalfarentzos F. Comparison of nutritional deficiencies after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and after biliopancreatic diversion with Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Obes Surg 2002;12(4):551–558. doi:10.1381/096089202762252334.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Xu J, Gordon JI. Inaugural Article: Honor thy symbionts. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2003;100(18):10452–10459. doi:10.1073/pnas.1734063100.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Ley RE, Backhed F, Turnbaugh P, Lozupone CA, Knight RD, Gordon JI. Obesity alters gut microbial ecology. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2005;102(31):11070–11075. doi:10.1073/pnas.0504978102.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Zuccotti GV, Meneghin F, Raimondi C, et al. Probiotics in clinical practice: an overview. J Int Med Res 2008;36(Suppl 1):1A–53A.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Jonkers D, Stockbrugger R. Review article: probiotics in gastrointestinal and liver diseases. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2007;26(Suppl 2):133–148.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Guslandi M. Probiotic agents in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome. J Int Med Res 2007;35(5):583–589.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Veereman-Wauters G. Pouchitis prevention with probiotics. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2003;37(5):636. doi:10.1097/00005176-200311000-00027.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Laake KO, Bjorneklett A, Aamodt G, et al. Outcome of four weeks’ intervention with probiotics on symptoms and endoscopic appearance after surgical reconstruction with a J-configurated ileal-pouch-anal-anastomosis in ulcerative colitis. Scand J Gastroenterol 2005;40(1):43–51. doi:10.1080/00365520410009339.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Rufo PA, Bousvaros A. Current therapy of inflammatory bowel disease in children. Paediatr Drugs 2006;8(5):279–302. doi:10.2165/00148581-200608050-00002.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Iyer C, Kosters A, Sethi G, Kunnumakkara AB, Aggarwal BB, Versalovic J. Probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri promotes TNF-induced apoptosis in human myeloid leukemia-derived cells by modulation of NF-kappaB and MAPK signalling. Cell Microbiol 2008;10:1442–1452.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Ma Y, Pagoto SL, Olendzki BC, et al. Predictors of weight status following laparoscopic gastric bypass. Obes Surg 2006;16(9):1227–1231. doi:10.1381/096089206778392284.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Theisen J, Nehra D, Citron D, et al. Suppression of gastric acid secretion in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease results in gastric bacterial overgrowth and deconjugation of bile acids. J Gastrointest Surg 2000;4(1):50–54. doi:10.1016/S1091-255X(00)80032-3.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Claxton AJ, Cramer J, Pierce C. A systematic review of the associations between dose regimens and medication compliance. Clin Ther 2001;23(8):1296–1310. doi:10.1016/S0149-2918(01)80109-0.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Eisen SA, Miller DK, Woodward RS, Spitznagel E, Przybeck TR. The effect of prescribed daily dose frequency on patient medication compliance. Arch Intern Med 1990;150(9):1881–1884. doi:10.1001/archinte.150.9.1881.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Farmer KC, Jacobs EW, Phillips CR. Long-term patient compliance with prescribed regimens of calcium channel blockers. Clin Ther 1994;16(2):316–326. discussion 271–272.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Backhed F, Ding H, Wang T, et al. The gut microbiota as an environmental factor that regulates fat storage. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2004;101(44):15718–15723. doi:10.1073/pnas.0407076101.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Christakis NA, Fowler JH. The spread of obesity in a large social network over 32 years. N Engl J Med 2007;357(4):370–379. doi:10.1056/NEJMsa066082.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Pasarica M, Dhurandhar NV. Infectobesity: obesity of infectious origin. Adv Food Nutr Res 2007;52:61–102. doi:10.1016/S1043-4526(06)52002-9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Atkinson RL. Could viruses contribute to the worldwide epidemic of obesity? Int J Pediatr Obes 2008;3(Suppl 1):37–43. doi:10.1080/17477160801896754.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Atkinson RL. Viruses as an etiology of obesity. Mayo Clin Proc 2007;82(10):1192–1198. doi:10.4065/82.10.1192.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Vasilakopoulou A, le Roux CW. Could a virus contribute to weight gain? Int J Obes Lond 2007;31(9):1350–1356. doi:10.1038/sj.ijo.0803623.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Dhurandhar NV. Infectobesity: obesity of infectious origin. J Nutr 2001;131(10):2794S–2797S.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Flegal KM, Troiano RP. Changes in the distribution of body mass index of adults and children in the US population. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 2000;24(7):807–818. doi:10.1038/sj.ijo.0801232.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Ley RE, Turnbaugh PJ, Klein S, Gordon JI. Microbial ecology: human gut microbes associated with obesity. Nature 2006;444(7122):1022–1023. doi:10.1038/4441022a.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Surgery Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation (SCORE), Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA

    Gavitt A. Woodard, Betsy Encarnacion, John R. Downey, Joseph Peraza, Karen Chong, Tina Hernandez-Boussard & John M. Morton

  2. 300 Pasteur Drive, H3680, Stanford, CA, 94025, USA

    John M. Morton

Authors
  1. Gavitt A. Woodard
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Betsy Encarnacion
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. John R. Downey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Joseph Peraza
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Karen Chong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Tina Hernandez-Boussard
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. John M. Morton
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to John M. Morton.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Woodard, G.A., Encarnacion, B., Downey, J.R. et al. Probiotics Improve Outcomes After Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery: A Prospective Randomized Trial. J Gastrointest Surg 13, 1198–1204 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11605-009-0891-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11605-009-0891-x

Keywords

search

Navigation