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Gastric Bypass Surgery is Associated with Reduced Inflammation and Less Depression: a Preliminary Investigation

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Background

Prior studies have documented elevated symptoms of depression among patients undergoing gastric bypass surgery, in addition to significant elevations of inflammatory markers including C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). No prior study has examined the relationship of changes in depression with change in inflammation among patients undergoing gastric bypass surgery. This pilot study was designed to examine the relationship of inflammation and depression among gastric bypass patients in a 12-month longitudinal study.

Methods

13 Caucasian women (mean age 46.9 ± 5.7 years) who were scheduled to undergo a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP) were recruited prior to surgery for measurement of body mass and blood markers of inflammation, as well as self-report measures of depression, quality of life, and disordered eating. 12 months later, subjects completed the same battery of physiological and psychological measures. Data were analyzed with paired t-tests and Pearson correlations.

Results

In addition to significant reductions in BMI (P < .001), participants experienced significant reductions in CRP (P < .001), IL-6 (P = .002), and depressive symptoms (P = .025). Reductions also were observed in binge eating (P = .005). Decreased depression during the 12-month follow-up was highly correlated with reduced CRP (r = .98, P < .001).

Conclusions

Results from this pilot study indicate that RYGBP is associated with significant reductions in inflammatory markers of cardiovascular disease risk (e.g., CRP, IL-6) and depressive symptoms, in addition to reductions in weight. Results suggested that reductions in depression were associated with the observed decreases in inflammation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Psychology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA

    Charles F. Emery PhD, Meghan D. M. Fondow MA & Andrea K. Busby MA

  2. Departments of Internal Medicine, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA

    Charles F. Emery PhD

  3. Departments of Anesthesiology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA

    Carol M. Schneider RN, Fievos L. Christofi PhD, Chantal Hunt RN & Hamdy M. Elsayed-Awad MD

  4. Departments of Surgery, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA

    Bradley J. Needleman MD & W. Scott Melvin MD

  5. Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA

    Charles F. Emery PhD

  6. Department of Psychology, Ohio State University, 1835 Neil Avenue, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA

    Charles F. Emery PhD

Authors
  1. Charles F. Emery PhD
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  2. Meghan D. M. Fondow MA
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  3. Carol M. Schneider RN
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  4. Fievos L. Christofi PhD
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  5. Chantal Hunt RN
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  6. Andrea K. Busby MA
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  7. Bradley J. Needleman MD
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  8. W. Scott Melvin MD
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  9. Hamdy M. Elsayed-Awad MD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Charles F. Emery PhD.

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Emery, C.F., Fondow, M.D.M., Schneider, C.M. et al. Gastric Bypass Surgery is Associated with Reduced Inflammation and Less Depression: a Preliminary Investigation. OBES SURG 17, 759–763 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-007-9140-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-007-9140-0

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