Background The effects of gastric bypass surgery on the secretion of the anorexogenic gut-derived hormones glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and peptide YY (PYY), independent of caloric restriction and due to different dietary macronutrients, is not well-characterized. This study examines the effects of a mixed-nutrient or high-fat liquid meal on the postprandial stimulation of GLP-1 and PYY following gastric bypass or equivalent hypocaloric diet. Methods Total PYY and active GLP-1 were measured fasting and at multiple points after standardized mixed-nutrient and high-fat liquid meals in two matched groups of obese subjects. The meal stimulation tests were performed before and 14.6±3.3 days after gastric bypass (GBP, n=10) and before and after a 7-day hypocaloric liquid diet matching the post-GBP diet (Control, n=10). Results Mixed-nutrient and high-fat postprandial GLP-1 levels increased following GBP (mixed-nutrient peak: 85.0±28.6 pg/ml to 323±51 pg/ml, p<0.01; high-fat peak: 81.8±9.6 pg/ml to 278±49 pg/ml, p<0.01), but not after diet (mixed-nutrient peak: 104.4±9.4 pg/ml to 114.9±15.8 pg/ml, p=NS; high-fat peak: 118.1±16.4 pg/ml to 104.4±10.8 pg/ml, p=NS). The postprandial PYY response also increased after GBP but not diet, though the increase in peak PYY did not reach statistical significance (GBP mixed-nutrient peak: 134.8±26.0 pg/ml to 220.7±52.9 pg/ml, p=0.09; GBP high-fat peak: 142.1±34.6 pg/ml to 197.9±12.7 pg/ml, p=0.07; diet mixed-nutrient peak: 99.8±8.0 pg/ml to 101.1±13.3 pg/ml, p=NS; diet high-fat peak: 105.0±8.8 pg/ml to 103.1±11.8 pg/ml, p=NS). The postprandial GLP-1 response was not affected by the macronutrient content of the meal. However, following GBP the mixed-nutrient PYY AUC0–120 was significantly greater than the high-fat PYY AUC0–120 (22081±5662 pg/ml•min versus 18711±1811 pg/ml•min, p=0.04). Conclusions Following GBP there is an increase in the postprandial stimulation of PYY and GLP-1 that is independent from caloric restriction. The phenomenon of ‘bariatric surgery-induced anorexia’ may be linked to the increased levels after GBP.

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