Role of sleeve gastrectomy in improving metabolic syndrome: an overview

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) presents a global health challenge characterized by cardiometabolic risk factors like central obesity, elevated blood pressure, dyslipidemia, and high fasting glucose levels. Despite lifestyle interventions and medications, the increasing prevalence of MetS calls for effective treatments. Sleeve gastrectomy (SG) has emerged as a promising intervention. This review examines the role of SG in improving MetS outcomes, drawing from a PubMed/Medline literature search. It highlights SG’s multifaceted metabolic effects, including hormonal changes and improved insulin sensitivity, contributing to improved metabolic outcomes. Additionally, SG leads to significant weight loss and effectively addresses comorbidities like hypertension, dyslipidemia, and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), with low rates of early morbidity and mortality. However, long-term studies indicate that Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) provides more sustained weight loss and superior resolution of metabolic comorbidities, whereas SG is associated with fewer early complications and a lower risk of nutritional deficiencies. In conclusion, SG offers a valuable option for managing MetS, providing significant weight loss and comorbidity improvement. Nevertheless, potential long-term complications, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and suboptimal weight response, emphasize careful patient selection and monitoring.