Keywords
Sleeve gastrectomy; Roux-en-Y gastric bypass; Chief cells; Protein digestion; Bariatric surgery; Obesity
Abstract
Obesity has become one of the largest global health concerns of the 21st century, correlating with numerous associated diseases. To help address the growing prevalence and burden of obesity, sleeve gastrectomy and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass have become two commonly performed surgical procedures done to promote weight loss by altering the anatomical structure of the stomach and surrounding organs of the gastrointestinal system. Although the benefits of improved metabolism linked to these surgical procedures are well studied, their impact on the physiology of gastric cells, and more specifically chief cells as they relate to protein digestion post-surgery, is yet to be fully understood. Therefore, this study investigates how these two types of bariatric surgery affect chief cell activity and the stomach’s ability to begin protein breakdown in post-surgery obese patients. This literature review focuses on gathering and evaluating characteristics of gastric tissue, analyzing markers related to the production of pepsinogen by chief cells, and assessing functional and structural changes of post-surgery gastric tissue as compared to pre-surgery gastric tissue. This project elucidates whether gastric anatomical reduction influences the early stages of proteolysis and how it affects the prognosis of post-surgery patients. Findings of the study suggest that both sleeve gastrectomy and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass significantly affect chief cell density, and consequently, their enzymatic activity. This physiological modification may affect protein digestion and absorption, which is why understanding these alterations in gastric tissue is crucial for improving long-term, postoperative nutritional management for better patient outcomes. Ultimately, this research provides new insight into gastric cellular function and digestion following surgical weight loss intervention with an emphasis on nutritional monitoring in postoperative patients.
Thesis Completion Year
2026
Thesis Completion Semester
Spring
Thesis Chair
Andl, Claudia
College
College of Medicine
Department
Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences
Thesis Discipline
Biomedical Sciences
Language
English
Access Status
Open Access
Length of Campus Access
None
Campus Location
Orlando (Main) Campus
STARS Citation
Gainza, Garikoitz Mikel, "The Impact of Gastric Sleeve and Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass on Chief Cell Function and Protein Digestion in Obese Patients" (2026). Honors Undergraduate Theses. 593.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/hut2024/593
Included in
Anatomy Commons, Biochemical Phenomena, Metabolism, and Nutrition Commons, Biological Phenomena, Cell Phenomena, and Immunity Commons, Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Commons, Digestive, Oral, and Skin Physiology Commons, Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism Commons, Gastroenterology Commons, Medical Anatomy Commons, Medical Cell Biology Commons, Medical Physiology Commons, Other Mental and Social Health Commons, Other Public Health Commons, Physiological Processes Commons, Surgery Commons, Surgical Procedures, Operative Commons
Accessibility Statement
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