Amino Acid Metabolism Before and After Bariatric Surgery

Obesity is a major global health problem that significantly increases the risk of metabolic disorders. Bariatric surgery is one of the most effective interventions for sustained weight loss in morbidly obese patients. However, the metabolic effects of such surgery on amino acid profiles are not fully understood. In this prospective observational study, a total of 100 participants will be enrolled: 50 patients undergoing bariatric surgery and 50 healthy controls. Serum samples will be collected from the patient group preoperatively, and at 1 and 3 months after surgery. The control group will provide one-time blood samples. All serum samples will be centrifuged and stored at -80°C until analysis. Free amino acid profiles will be determined using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The primary outcome is to assess the change in amino acid concentrations over time in surgical patients, and to compare them with healthy controls. Secondary analyses will explore correlations between amino acid levels and body mass index (BMI). Data analysis will be performed using SPSS and MetaboAnalyst 5.0. This study will help clarify how bariatric surgery influences amino acid metabolism and may offer insights into the metabolic mechanisms underlying postoperative recovery and weight regulation.