Stanford University researchers found that the biochemical risk of heart disease lessens with gastric bypass surgery more than was previously thought. C-reactive protein levels in extremely obese persons are exceptionally high before gastric bypass surgery is performed. These levels dropped by as much as 50% after surgery. Biochemical risk factors all dropped after surgery. Factors studied were cholesterol, Homocysteine, APa, and triglycerides. The study assessed 371 patients, 84% of whom were women with an average age of 43. 50% of the patients had hypertension and 33% had diabetes.

By Ellie Kuykendall