The Effects of Surgically Removing Subcutaneous Fat on the Metabolic Profile and Insulin Sensitivity in Obese Women after Large-Volume Liposuction Treatment

Abstract

The aim of this study was to identify the effects of surgically removing subcutaneous fat on the metabolic profile and insulin sensitivity in obese women after large-volume liposuction treatment. An open clinical trial with a non-intervention parallel group was carried out on 12 young, obese women. After randomization, six volunteers were selected to the surgical intervention consisting of large-volume liposuction; the other six women were considered as the non-intervention group. Metabolic profiles and insulin tolerance tests to assess insulin sensitivity were performed on all volunteers before intervention or non-intervention and 21 - 28 days afterwards. There were a significant decrease in glucose (4.9 ± 0.4 vs. 4.6 ± 0.2 mmol/l, p < 0.05) and uric acid (250.8 ± 56.2 vs. 224.0 ± 53.4 µmol/l, p < 0.05) levels after liposuction; insulin sensitivity improved after the surgical intervention (4.3 ± 0.9 vs. 5.3 ± 0.8 %/min, p = 0.046). In conclusion, surgical removal of subcutaneous fat by large-volume liposuction led to an improvement in insulin sensitivity and a decrease in glucose and uric acid concentrations.

Subcutaneous Fat - Insulin Sensitivity - Obesity - Liposuction - Metabolic Profile

References

• 1 Everson S A, Goldberg D E, Helmrich S P, Lakka T A, Lynch J W, Kaplan G A, Salonen J T. Weight gain and the risk of developing insulin resistance syndrome.  Diabetes Care. 1998;  21 1637-1643
• 2 Sugerman H, Windsor A, Bessos M, Kellum J, Reines H, DeMaria E. Effects of surgically induced weight loss on urinary bladder pressure, sagittal abdominal diameter and obesity co-morbidity.  Int J Obes. 1998;  22 230-235
• 3 Muscelli E, Camastra S, Gastaldelli A, Natali A, Masoni A, Pecori N, Ferrannini E. Influence of duration of obesity on the insulin resistance of obese non-diabetic patients.  Int J Obes. 1998;  22 262-267
• 4 Goodpaster B H, Thaete F L, Simoneau J-A, Kelley D E. Subcutaneous abdominal fat and thigh muscle composition predict insulin sensitivity independently of visceral fat.  Diabetes. 1997;  46 1579-1585
• 5 Cardenas-Camarena L, Tobar-Losada A, Lacouture A M. Large-volume circumferential liposuction with tumescent technique: A sure and viable procedure.  Plast Reconstr Surg. 1999;  104 1887-1899
• 6 Jeyaseelan L, Rao P SS. Methods of determining sample sizes in clinical trials.  Indian Pediatr. 1989;  26 115-121
• 7 Goodpaster B H, Kelley D E, Wing R R, Meier A, Thaete F L. Effects of weight loss on regional fat distribution and insulin sensitivity in obesity.  Diabetes. 1999;  48 839-847
• 8 Martin M L, Jensen M D. Effects of body fat distribution on regional lipolysis in obesity.  J Clin Invest. 1991;  88 609-613
• 9 Rebuffé-Scrive M, Anderson B, Olbe L, Björntorp P. Metabolism of adipose tissue in intraabdominal depots in severely obese men and women.  Metabolism. 1990;  39 1021-1025
• 10 Barzilai N, She L, Liu B-Q, Vuguin P, Cohen P, Wang J, Rossetti L. Surgical removal of visceral fat reverses hepatic insulin resistance.  Diabetes. 1999;  48 94-98
• 11 Liszka T G, Dellon A L, Im M, Angel M F, Plotnick L. Effect of lipectomy on growth and development of hyperinsulinemia and hyperlipidemia in the Zucker rat.  Plast Reconstr Surg. 1998;  102 1122-1127
• 12 Berntorp E, Berntorp K, Brorson H, Frik K. Liposuction in Dercum's disease: Impact on haemostatic factors associated with cardiovascular disease and insulin sensitivity.  J Intern Med. 1988;  243 197-201
• 13 González-Ortiz M, Martínez-Abundis E, Balcázar-Muñoz B R, Robles-Cervantes J A. Inhibition of cyclooxygenase-1 or -2 on insulin sensitivity in healthy subjects.  Horm Metab Res. 2001;  33 250-253