Protein Supplements with Short Peptides Are Better than Complex Protein-Based Supplements on Improving Early Fat-Free Mass Loss Following Bariatric Surgery: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Bariatric surgery (BS) patients are advised to consume protein supplements to prevent fat-free mass (FFM) loss. However, limited research has explored the efficacy of diverse protein presentations on FFM preservation. This study assesses if short peptide-based (SPB) supplements surpass complex protein-based (CPB) supplements in reducing early FFM loss post-surgery.

In this retrospective cohort study, 138 patients who underwent BS other than Roux-en-Y-gastric bypass (RYGB) between January 2021 and March 2021 at the Department of Bariatric Surgery of the Third People’s Hospital of Chengdu were included for analysis. Patients were divided into two groups based on their consumption of protein supplements after surgery: SPB group and CPB group. Multiple linear regressions separated by sex were employed to examine the associations between SPB supplements and FFM loss and percentage of FFM (%FFM) loss, respectively.

Among participants, 69.6% were female, with a mean age of 33.3 years. In multiple linear regression analyses, SPB supplements were significantly and positively associated with a lower FFM loss in both female (ꞵ =  − 1.14, P = 0.047) and male (ꞵ =  − 2.36, P = 0.024), and were positively associated with a lower %FFM loss in both female (ꞵ =  − 1.83) and male (ꞵ =  − 2.26) but only significant in male (P = 0.049).

SPB supplements may be more effective in preventing early FFM loss after BS, compared to CPB supplements, particularly among male patients. Therefore, SPB supplements may be recommended to patients undergoing BS. Further research is needed to validate these findings.