Comparison of preoperative and postoperative serum thiol/disulfide levels in patients undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy for morbid obesity.

OBJECTIVE: Obesity, a prevalent chronic disease, results from an imbalance between energy intake and expenditure. The oxidative stress associated with obesity stems from an imbalance between reactive oxygen species and the cell's antioxidant defense system. Oxidative stress can cause many diseases. The assessment of thiol/disulfide balance, a biochemical test, can be used to detect oxidative stress. The aim of this study is to determine the changes in oxidative stress associated with obesity after obesity surgery by assessing the thiol/disulfide levels.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study was conducted with 40 volunteer patients with a body mass index (BMI) above 40 who underwent obesity surgery at Harran University Hospital General Surgery. Thiol and disulfide levels and other blood parameters were measured from the preoperative and postoperative 2nd and 6th-month blood samples of the patients. BMI was calculated by recording the weights and heights of the cases. Patients with diseases that could affect oxidative stress measurements and those using medication were excluded from the study, and the analyses were performed accordingly.

RESULTS: The results showed a statistically significant decrease in native thiol, disulfide, reduced thiol, oxidized thiol, glucose, ALT (alanine aminotransferase), ALP (alkaline phosphatase), total cholesterol, HDL (high-density lipoprotein), triglyceride, and BMI values between the preoperative, 2-month postoperative, and 6-month postoperative measurements (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Restrictive methods such as sleeve gastrectomy in individuals with morbid obesity led to weight control and a decrease in adipose tissue, reducing oxidative stress and increasing antioxidant response.