Associations between the effectiveness of sleeve gastrectomy and the composition and function of gut microbiome in obese rats.

BACKGROUND

With the increasing prevalence of obesity and related metabolic diseases, this study focused on the comprehensive effects of sleeve gastrectomy (SG) on obese rats, revealing the association between obesity and metabolic disorders, and the potential of SG in improving metabolism.

METHODS

A high-fat diet (HFD) was used to induce obesity in rats and then randomly divided into HFD-induced obese, sham, and SG groups. Body weight and fasting blood glucose (FBG) were regularly monitored. Liver injury and intestinal barrier function were observed after surgery, whereas stool and portal vein serum samples were collected for microbiome and metabolome assays.

RESULTS

The HFD-fed rats showed continuous weight gain and elevated FBG and insulin levels. After SG, rats lost weight and reversed disturbances in glucose metabolism. SG also protected the liver, reduced injury, ameliorated hepatic steatosis, repaired intestinal morphology and decreased permeability, and improved intestinal barrier dysfunction. Microbial community studies found that SG remodeled the composition of intestinal flora and reduced the ratio of p_Firmicutes to p_Bacteroidota (F:B). Metabolomics analysis further revealed that SG caused dynamic changes in multiple metabolites in the portal vein serum and stool, affecting key metabolic pathways related to lipids, carbohydrates, and amino acids. Finally, correlation analyses revealed complex interactions between gut microbes and differential metabolites.

CONCLUSION

Overall, this exploratory study demonstrated that SG effectively improved obesity in rats, and enriched the theoretical system of obesity at the genetic and molecular levels to improve the safety and effectiveness of bariatric surgery.