Dramatic shift in gut microbes and their metabolites seen after weight loss surgery

(Arizona State University) A new study compares the two most common surgical therapies for obesity, known as Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), and laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB). The results demonstrate that RYGB -- the more aggressive of the two surgeries -- produces profound changes in the composition of microbial communities in the gut, with the resulting gut flora distinct from both obese and normal weight patients, due to the dramatic reorganization of the gut caused by RYGB surgery, which increases microbial diversity.
Source: EurekAlert! - Biology - Category: Biology Source Type: news