A Study to Examine Changes in GIP Plasma Levels Following Gastric Bypass Surgery in Obese Patients

Obesity is a multinational epidemic. There is evidence that despite educational measures and increased public awareness, the number of obese individuals continues to increase. Of the numerous obesity-related comorbidities, type 2 diabetes remains one of the most significant in terms of mortality and health care costs. Gastric Bypass Surgery (GBS) not only offers an effective form of therapy for morbid obesity, but also amelioration of type 2 diabetes mellitus. The normalization of glucose levels in GBS patients occurs within days after surgery and has been shown in surgical literature to be independent of the weight loss after surgery. The proximal gut, the site of release of certain incretins, may play a role in glucose homeostasis in obese individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus. One such incretin is GIP, which when released into the circulation during the immediate postprandial period, accentuates the insulin response to a glucose meal. It is hypothesized that overactivity of this enteroinsular axis in obese individuals produces cell resistance to insulin and subsequent type 2 diabetes mellitus. A previous study reported elevated fasting GIP levels, as well as an exaggerated GIP response to a glucose meal, in obese subjects, which was significantly reduced months after GBS following weight loss. This pilot study of obese patients scheduled for GBS will compare the serum levels of certain peptides, including GIP, following a glucose meal before and after GBS, before weight loss has occured. In order to reproduce the preoperative state, and therefore to demonstrate the physiologic change, a small group of subjects who undergo open surgery will undergo the same measurements after surgery, but using a model in which the meal traverses the stomach, duodenum and jejunum with the aid of a gastrostomy tube.

This is a pilot study to collect the relevant information for planning a larger and more definitive investigation. A total of thirty subjects will be evaluated in this study to be conducted at the Boston Medical Center. The study population will consist of obese patients who meet the criteria and have been scheduled by their surgeon for GBS. We plan to enroll a total of 30 subjects scheduled for GBS. Patients will be assigned according to standard surgical care to either open or laparoscopic surgery. We plan to enroll 20 subjects who undergo laparoscopic GBS (LAP) and 10 subjects who undergo open GBS (OPEN). All potential subjects will have undergone baseline screening as a part of their routine medical evaluation performed by Dr. Apovian or Dr. McDonnell in the Nutrition Center at BMC. This standard testing includes medical history, physical examination, complete blood count, serum electrolytes, BUN, creatinine, fasting blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin. If patients are identified as having type 2 diabetes or glucose intolerance, they will be provided informed consent. If consented subjects meet all the inclusion and exclusion criteria, each will undergo a baseline oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) approximately one week before surgery. Plasma concentrations of insulin, GIP, glucagon, and GLP-1 will also be measured along with glucose levels and other peptides (CCK, ghrelin, c-peptide) at the same intervals, using commercially available assay kits. Post-operatively, subjects in the LAP group will undergo 2 OGTTs, while subjects in the OPEN group will undergo 2 OGTTs and one glucose tolerance test through the gastrostomy tube (GGTT). The results of the postoperative OGTTs will be compared with baseline OGTTs. In a separate analysis, the results of the GGTTs will be compared with the baseline and postoperative OGTTs. Inclusion criteria Patients 21-64 y ears of age with obesity (defined as a body mass index, BMI, \> or = 30) and type 2 diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance, who have been selected and scheduled for gastric bypass surgery. Exclusion criteria Substance abuse, consumption of more than two alcoholic drinks per day, use of more than 20 units of insulin (any brand or type) per day, and having a fasting blood glucose \>180mg/dl on screening bloodwork. F2. Procedure All subjects will undergo a total of 3 OGTTs, 1 before surgery and 2 after. The OPEN group will also have a glucose tolerance test via a gastrostomy tube (GGTT) placed in the duodenum (per routine surgical procedure) as described below. The OGTT consists of a 12-hour overnight fast followed by drinking a 225 ml of solution containing 75 grams of a glucose (Glucola), over 30 minutes. 30 minutes is the average time a patient requires in order to drink a 225ml Glucola drink after gastric bypass surgery. In order to be able to make a valid comparison of the three OGTTs, each OGTT will require that the subject drink over 30 minutes. Blood samples are obtained from an intravenous catheter at various time intervals: 5 minutes and immediately before drinking the Glucola, and 5, 10, 15, 30, 60, 90, 120, and 180 minutes afterwards. Blood levels of glucose, insulin, glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), glucagon, and Glucagon-Like Peptide (GLP-1), CCK, ghrelin and c-peptide will be determined from the samples obtained. In addition, at hour 2 during the OGTT (when glucose peaks) we will obtain a real-time glucose level with a drop of blood from the indwelling line. The GGTT follows that same protocol as the OGTT, but the Glucola is administered via a gastrostomy tube, placed per routine surgical procedure in patients undergoing open GBS. Approximately 1 week before surgery, all subjects will undergo an OGTT in the GCRC. Between day 6 and 10 after their surgery, when subjects are tolerating their standard 240cc liquid meals 3-4 times daily, subjects will undergo the third OGTT. Although most subjects are discharged on day 3 or 4 after surgery, and will be asked to return to the GCRC, those subjects who remain in the hospital through day 5 will have the option to remain in the hospital for an additional time (1-2 days) or to go home and return to the GCRC within 5 days (no later than POD 10) The additional hospital days will be paid for by the GCRC. After surgery, subjects in LAP group will have one OGTT. Subjects in the OPEN group will have a GGTT on one day and an OGTT on the following day. Subjects will be weighed before surgery and every day during the first week after surgery and before each glucose tolerance test. All subjects will undergo a final OGTT approximately 3 -4 weeks after surgery. This will take place in the GCRC on the same day as a routine follow up visit to their surgeon. Patients will be contacted by telephone for assessment approximately 24 hours before and after each GTT. There are 2 primary outcomes: 1) Change in plasma GIP response to glucose after GBS and 2) change in insulin sensitivity after GBS, as measured by an area-under-the-curve equation for a standardized 180-minute oral glucose tolerance test. Secondary outcomes include 1) Change in plasma GLP-1 response to glucose after GBS and 2) change in plasma glucagon response to glucose after GBS, as measured by the equation used for the primary outcome. We expect that our enrollment period will be 18 months to 24 months. The estimated duration of the entire study is 28 months