Inflammatory marker changes following vertical sleeve gastrectomy in Black Americans and White Americans

Abstract

Obesity is a disease of excess adiposity accompanied by chronic low‐grade inflammation that has diverse negative impacts on various organ systems, including immuno‐hematologic parameters. Surgical weight loss procedures like vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) are sufficient in resolving obesity comorbidities and are touted to reduce the burden of pro‐inflammatory cytokines and augment release of anti‐inflammatory cytokines. Recent published work suggests that resolution of obesity‐related parameters does not occur in Black Americans to the same extent as seen in White Americans following bariatric surgery. This study aims to determine if early changes to immunoglobulins and general markers of inflammation occur similarly after bariatric surgery in a sampling of Black and White American participants. To test this aim, we collected samples from 12 Black American and 12 White American patients before and 6 weeks after VSG. Collectively, Immunoglobulin G (IgG), TGFβ, and C‐reactive protein were all significantly reduced in the cohort following VSG. However, initial and post‐surgery IgG levels were higher in the Black Americans in comparison to White Americans (p < 0.01). No differences were observed with surgery by either race or time for IgA though IgM levels trended to be elevated in White Americans in comparison to Black Americans. Taken in context to previous work, our data suggest there is a disparity between African American and White American immunoglobulin and cytokine production following bariatric surgery. Further research is necessary to investigate the extent of this divergence and additional chronological changes with bariatric surgery.