Weight Loss Surgery Lowers Liver Damage, Study Reveals

A new study reveals a strong association between bariatric surgery and reduced liver damage.

Researchers at the University of South Florida-Tampa found that apart from helping patients cut down on extra pounds; weight loss surgery also reduces live damage from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). 

The weight loss surgery resolved liver inflammation and reversed early stage liver fibrosis i.e. thickening and scarring of liver tissue, by lowering the fat deposit in liver.

"About 30 percent of the U.S. population suffers from this disease, which is increasing, and more than half are also severely obese," said Michel Murr, MD, lead researcher of the study, professor of surgery and director of Tampa General Hospital and USF Health Bariatric Center. "Our findings suggest that providers should consider bariatric surgery as the treatment of choice for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in severely obese patients."

Based on the study results, the researchers suggest that weight loss surgery should be considered for those patients with body mass index of more than 35 and obesity reacted co-morbidities or body mass index of more than 40.

According to the study, researchers found that other traditional interventions such as use of medication provide a low success rate.

In this study they compared liver biopsies of 152 patients. One biopsy was conducted at the time of a bariatric procedure and the other during an average of 29 months later.

On evaluating the pre-operative biopsies, the researchers identified patients with cellular NAFLD. After reviewing the post operative biopsies, the researchers noticed that weight loss surgery did result in improvements.

In nearly 70 percent of the patients, the fat deposits on the liver were resolved. In 74 percent of the patients, there was an improvement in inflammation and lobular inflammation was also resolved.  Nearly 32 percent of the patients witnessed improvement in chronic portal inflammation and steatohpatitis was resolved in 88 percent of the victims.

Over 62 percent of those with stage two liver fibrosis saw an improvement or resolution of the fibrosis.  One in three witnessed improvement in cirrhosis.

"We are in the midst of an obesity epidemic that can lead to an epidemic of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease," said Dr. Murr. "As a tool in fighting obesity, bariatric surgery could also help prevent the emergence of widespread liver disease."

The findings were presented at the Digestive Disease Week.