Effect of sleeve gastrectomy on plasma growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF15) in human

Background: Sleeve gastrostomy (SG) induces significant weight loss primarily as a result of increased satiety and reduced food intake. Growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF15) is a satiety hormone which induces a dramatic reduction of food intake and body weight.

Objective: To assess the effect of sleeve gastrectomy on plasma GDF 15 level and the association with the weight loss and diabetes control after SG.

Method: We assessed plasma GDF15 level in 21 patients (15 with obesity and 6 with obesity and diabetes) before and then at 1, 3 and 12 months after SG.

Results: GDF15 was significantly increased at 1 month after SG compared to before surgery level (301.9 ± 135.2 pg/ml vs 215.1 ± 119.9 pg/ml, respectively p<0.05) and increased even further at 3 months (338.86 ± 131.14 pg/ml, p<0.01) and remain elevated at 12 months (329.39 ± 152.1 pg/ml p<0.05) after SG. At 3 months after surgery, the increased GDF15 level was correlated with the magnitude of BMI loss (r² = 0.204, p<0.05).

Conclusion: SG induces a significant increase in GDF15 level which is correlated with the magnitude of BMI loss.