The effect of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass on uric acid levels: a meta-analysis

Objective: Obesity is an important, modifiable, independent risk factor for elevated serum uric acid (SUA) levels. A number of studies have shown that weight loss can lead to a decrease in SUA concentrations. However, the existing evidence regarding the effect of a particular type of bariatric surgery (Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, RYGB) on SUA levels is limited and not fully understood. Therefore, the aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the effect of RYGB on circulating uric acid levels. Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted across databases including Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus. The overall effect size was assessed through a random-effects meta-analysis and by employing a leave-one-out analytical method. Results: The random-effects meta-analysis of 18 trials including 1312 individuals confirmed a significant reduction in uric acid following RYGB (WMD: −1.090 mg/dL, 95% CI: −1.429, −0.752, P < .001). In sub-analyses analyzing the duration of follow up, there was a significant reduction in uric acid after ≥12 months (WMD: −1.168, 95% CI: −1.663, −0.673, P < .001), and <12 months (WMD: −0.941, 95% CI: −1.379, −0.503, P < .001). There was no significant change in circulating uric acid concentrations based on the duration of follow-up. Conclusion: The RYGB type of bariatric surgery significantly decreases SUA levels. This result was not related to the length of follow-up period following bariatric surgery.