Analysis of Changes in BDNF Levels Before and After Bariatric Surgery in Obese Patients

Objectives: The rate of obesity has been increasing globally, so is the number of obese patients undergoingbariatric surgery. The relationship between brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and body weight has beenhighlighted in recent years, but there are few related studies in China. The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes of BDNF in obese patients before and after bariatric surgery and to provide evidence for obesity-related mechanisms. Methods: The BDNF levels in 44 obese patients who underwent bariatric surgery were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) before and 4.5 months after surgery. SPSS 27.0 was used for statistical analysis. Results: Among the 44 patients, 30 were female and 14 were male. The body mass index (BMI) decreased significantly after bariatric surgery (P < 0.001); the serum BDNF of the patients significantly increased (P < 0.001) after surgery. There was no significant difference in BDNF among patients with different degrees of obesity before and after surgery (P > 0.05). There were no significant differences in BMI and BDNF levels between different sexes before and after surgery (P > 0.05). Conclusion: The BDNF levels of obese patients increased significantly after bariatric surgery, which proved that bariatric surgery has an effect on BDNF levels.