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One-year impact of bariatric surgery on serum anti-Mullerian-hormone levels in severely obese women

  • Reproductive Physiology and Disease
  • Published:
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Abstract

Introduction

Although bariatric surgery seems to increase spontaneous fertility by improving ovulatory function in young women, its impact on ovarian reserve remains largely unknown.

Objective

To evaluate changes in serum anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) levels in reproductive-age severely obese women after bariatric surgery (BS).

Methods

AMH levels were measured retrospectively in 39 women (mean age 34.6 ± 1.1 years, range 18–45) that underwent a sleeve gastrectomy or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) at baseline, and 6 and 12 months after BS. Metabolic and micronutrient status, including fasting plasma insulin and glucose, HOMA-IR, leptin, adiponectin, calcium, albumin, transthyretin, ferritin, vitamins (B9, B12, B1, A, E, D), zinc, and selenium, were assessed in all patients before and 1 year after BS.

Results

Of the patients, 79% had class-3 obesity. At 6 and 12 months, mean total weight losses (TWL) were 26 and 30%; mean excess weight losses (EWL) were 61.7 and 70.2%. Compared to baseline, AMH levels significantly decreased by 18% at 6 months, and 32% at 12 months post-operatively (p = 0.010 and p = 0.001, respectively). There was no correlation between AMH variation and changes in metabolic parameters or micronutrient levels. Remarkably, changes in AMH levels did not differ between sleeve and RYGB patients and were not correlated with EWL.

Conclusion

This pilot study shows a drastic reduction in AMH levels at 1 year after BS in reproductive-age severely obese women, which was not related to weight loss: this suggests a negative impact of BS on ovarian reserve, at least in the short term.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pole ENDO, La Conception Hospital, APHM, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France

    Clara Vincentelli, René Valéro, Sophie Béliard, Flavia Maurice, Anne Dutour & Bénédicte Gaborit

  2. Centre Spécialisé de l’Obésité (CSO) PACA Ouest, Marseille, France

    Clara Vincentelli, René Valéro, Sophie Béliard, Flavia Maurice, Olivier Emungania, Bruno Berthet, Anne Dutour & Bénédicte Gaborit

  3. Aix-Marseille University, INSERM, INRA, C2VN, Marseille, France

    Clara Vincentelli, Marie Maraninchi, René Valéro, Sophie Béliard, Flavia Maurice, Anne Dutour & Bénédicte Gaborit

  4. Digestive Surgery Department, Nord Hospital, APHM, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France

    Olivier Emungania

  5. Digestive Surgery Department, La Conception Hospital, APHM, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France

    Bruno Berthet

  6. Aix Marseille University, INSERM, GMGF, AP-HM, Marseille, France

    Elise Lombard

  7. Laboratory of Biochemistry, AP-HM La Conception Hospital, Marseille, France

    Elise Lombard

  8. Department of Gynaecology, Obstetric and Reproduction, La Conception Hospital, AP-HM, Marseille, France

    Blandine Courbiere

  9. Aix Marseille University, CNRS, IRD, Avignon University, IMBE UMR 7263, Marseille, France

    Blandine Courbiere

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  1. Clara Vincentelli
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Clara Vincentelli.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Age distribution in the study population (JPG 83 kb)

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Vincentelli, C., Maraninchi, M., Valéro, R. et al. One-year impact of bariatric surgery on serum anti-Mullerian-hormone levels in severely obese women. J Assist Reprod Genet 35, 1317–1324 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-018-1196-3

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