Bone mineral changes in spine and proximal femur in individual obese women after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy: A short-term study

Abstract

Background: The aim of the study was to establish longitudinal bone changes in obese women after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG). Methods: Twenty-nine women at baseline mean age of 40.41±9.26 years and with mean body mass index (BMI) of 43.07±4.99 kg/m2 were included in a 6-month study. Skeletal status at hip [femoral neck (FN) and total hip (TH)] and spine was assessed at baseline, as well as in 3 and 6 months after surgery. Body size was measured at baseline and follow-up (weight, height, BMI, and waist). Results: Baseline body weight was 117.5±18.4 kg. The mean body weight and BMI decreased by 17.9 % during the first 3 months after surgery to obtain 28.4 % after 6 months. At 6 months, BMD decreased significantly for spine by 1.24 %, FN 6.99 %, and TH 5.18 %. The changes after 3 months in individual subjects showed that, in the majority of subjects, FN and TH BMD decreased significantly (in 52 % and 69 % of subjects, respectively), and in 24 % loss of BMD was found at the spine. After 6 months, the corresponding, significant decreases in individual subjects were found in 72 %, 86 %, and 38 % of woman, respectively. Those with a significant loss of FN BMD tended to lose more weight (30±9.47 versus 23.25±6.08 kg, p=0.061) than others; women with a significant decrease of FN BMD lost more weight than those with no such decrease (30.43±8.07 versus 15±1.91 kg). Conclusion: LSG proved efficient for body weight reduction, however, with a parallel decline in bone mineral density. © 2012 The Author(s).