Study of Digestive Function and Physiology in Adults After Bariatric Surgery or Living with Obesity

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are investigating digestive enzyme activity and gastrointestinal physiology in adults aged 18 to 65 who have either undergone bariatric surgery at least one year ago or are living with obesity. The study aims to understand how digestion and gastrointestinal conditions differ after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy surgeries compared to individuals with obesity without prior surgery. It focuses on measuring enzyme activity and bile acid concentrations throughout the digestive tract to better characterize digestive function in these groups. The study involves two main visits. During the first visit, fluids will be collected from multiple areas of the gastrointestinal tract using a naso-intestinal catheter to analyze enzyme activity and bile acids. In the second visit, participants will swallow a telemetric ingestible capsule that continuously measures various physiological parameters such as pH and transit times along the entire gastrointestinal tract. These procedures help researchers assess digestion and gastrointestinal transit in real time. Participants will be evaluated through sample collection and capsule monitoring to measure enzymes including gastric lipase, pepsin, trypsin, chymotrypsin, alpha-amylase, and pancreatic lipase. The study will also assess bile acid concentration, pH, and transit times in different gut regions over periods of 2 to 48 hours. Data collected will provide insights into digestive enzyme activity and gastrointestinal function after bariatric surgery or in obesity. The total study duration includes two visits with physiological assessments and monitoring of digestive processes.

Gastro-Intestinal Digestion and Physiology After Bariatric Surgery