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The Effects of Liposuction Removal of Subcutaneous Abdominal Fat on Lipid Metabolism are Independent of Insulin Sensitivity in Normal-Overweight Individuals

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Abstract

Background

Abdominal fat (both visceral and subcutaneous) accumulation is associated with an increased risk of developing insulin resistance. The latter stands as the basis upon which diabetes, hypertension, and atherogenic dyslipidemia tend to build up. Hence, abdominal liposuction (AL) could theoretically hold metabolic benefits. We undertook the present study to assess the effects of AL on carbohydrate and lipid metabolism.

Methods

This is a prospective study including 20 healthy volunteers (M2/F18) aged 39.6 ± 7.7 years old (24–52), body mass index (BMI) = 25.3 ± 4.7 kg/m2 (19.8–36) who underwent AL. Before and 4 months after AL, we measured glucose and insulin concentrations, HOMA index [glucose (mM) × IRI (μUI/l)/22.5], free fatty acids (FFA), glycerol, total cholesterol and triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol (HDL-c), low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol (LDL-c), very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL)-cholesterol (VLDL-c) and apolipoproteins (apo) B, AI and AII, adiponectin (Adp), and ultra-sensitive C-reactive protein (CRP).

Results

Lipo-aspirate averaged 5.494 ± 5.297 cc (600–19.000). Weight, BMI, and waist circumference decreased significantly 4 months after surgery by 4.6, 4.6 and 5.9%, respectively. There were significant decrements in FFA (−35%, p < 0.0001), glycerol (−63%, p < 0.0005), VLDL-c (−15.2%; p < 0.001), and triglycerides (−21.3%, p < 0.002), an increase in HDL-c (+10%, p < 0.03), Apo AI (+10.1%, p < 0.02), and Apo AII (+11.8%, p < 0.001). Total cholesterol, LDL-c, ApoB, and the LDL-c/ApoB ratio raised by +15% (p < 0.0005), +27.3% (p < 0.000), +15.1% (p < 0.008) and +2.76% (p < 0.008), respectively. Glucose, insulin, the HOMA index, Adp, and CRP were not significantly altered after AL.

Conclusion

AL in healthy normal weight or slightly overweight subjects improves the major lipoprotein components of obesity-associated dyslipidemia. This improvement occurs independent of insulin sensitivity.

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Acknowledgments

ISCIII-RETIC RD06, PI052099 and PI051540 funded this work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Servicio de Endocrinología y Nutrición, Hospital de la Santa Creu i de Sant Pau e Institut Vila-Rovira, Av. P. Maria Claret, 167, Barcelona, 08025, Spain

    J. Ybarra & A. Pérez

  2. Servicio de Endocrinología y Bioquímica, Barcelona, Spain

    F. Blanco-Vaca, S. Fernández, A. Castellví, R. Bonet, X. Palomer & J. Ordóñez-Llanos

  3. Hospital de la Santa Creu i de Sant Pau e Institut Vila-Rovira (Centro Médico Teknon), Barcelona, Spain

    A. Trius & R. Vila-Rovira

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  1. J. Ybarra
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Correspondence to J. Ybarra.

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Ybarra, J., Blanco-Vaca, F., Fernández, S. et al. The Effects of Liposuction Removal of Subcutaneous Abdominal Fat on Lipid Metabolism are Independent of Insulin Sensitivity in Normal-Overweight Individuals. OBES SURG 18, 408–414 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-007-9261-5

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