Objective: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is one of the most effective therapies to treat obesity. However, whether LSG affects thyroid function remains elusive. Due to a lack of longitudinal research, we explored changes in thyroid function in euthyroid patients with obesity before and after LSG.
Methods: In total, 109 participants (59 obese patients, 30 normal controls and 20 overweight subjects) were recruited from the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University (CSU). All patients underwent LSG, and metabolic indicators and free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4), and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) were evaluated at baseline, 6 and 12 months postoperatively.
Results: Compared to the normal control group, the concentrations of FT4 were decreased and TSH were increased in the obese group at baseline. Thyroid hormone levels in all participants were within the normal range during the 12 months after LSG. The concentrations of FT3 (4.83 ± 0.06 vs 5.03 ± 0.08, P = 0.023) and TSH (1.67 ± 0.11 vs 2.25 ± 0.18, P = 0.000) significantly decreased from baseline to 12 months postoperatively, while the concentrations of FT4 significantly increased (17.40 ± 0.52 vs 15.80 ± 0.32, P = 0.004). The decrease in fasting C-peptide (FCP) was related to the decline in FT3 and TSH during 12 months after LSG.
Conclusion: Obesity is closely related to thyroid function. LSG promoted a significant decrease in FT3 and TSH and a significant increase in FT4 in euthyroid patients with obesity after LSG. The decline in FCP may be involved in the decrease in FT3 and TSH after LSG.
Keywords: laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, obesity, thyroid function