Jejunal morphology and mucosal enzyme activity following intestinal shunt operation for obesity.

Jejunal biopsy in 33 patients before and after intestinal shunt operation for obesity has demonstrated that neither surface nor volume of the villi increase after surgery. Specific disaccharidase activity remained unchanged, and specific alkaline phosphatase activity increased slightly. There was a significant decrease in protein content in the postoperative biopsies. It is concluded that weight stabilization after the shunt operation is due to adaptive compensation in the ileal remnant.