2026-09-25T01:14:58Z https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/129981 2025-10-25 col_2142_5131 col_2142_14781 com_2142_5130 com_2142_687 com_2142_397

application/pdf en text Submission original under an indefinite embargo labeled 'Open Access'. The submission was exported from vireo on 2025-10-20 without embargo terms The student, Mariel Molina Castro, accepted the attached license on 2025-07-23 at 10:34. The student, Mariel Molina Castro, submitted this Thesis for approval on 2025-07-23 at 10:41. This Thesis was approved for publication on 2025-07-23 at 14:49. DSpace SAF Submission Ingestion Package generated from Vireo submission #22704 on 2025-10-20 at 20:15:41 Endocrine responses to alcohol ingestion in women with and without metabolic surgery Molina Castro, Mariel 2025-07-23 Pepino, Marta Y. Miller, Michael Amengual, Jaume Alcohol Use Disorder Weight-loss Surgery Glucose Metabolism eng Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1)-based therapies, widely used for treating obesity and type 2 diabetes, also show potential for reducing alcohol-seeking behavior. However, the effects of alcohol on endogenous GLP-1 and related peptides remain poorly understood, especially in individuals who have undergone metabolic surgery, a group at elevated risk for alcohol use disorder (AUD) despite an enhanced GLP-1 response post-surgery. This work integrates findings from cross-sectional and longitudinal placebo-controlled studies that examined the acute endocrine and glycemic effects of alcohol ingestion in women with and without a history of metabolic surgery. In the cross-sectional study, 18 post-surgical and 14 control women were assessed for hormonal and metabolic responses to an alcohol dose. Alcohol decreased GLP-1 by 34% in both groups and reduced ghrelin more in controls (27%) than in the surgery group (13%). Alcohol modestly lowered glucose and transiently increased insulin secretion in both groups. However, 28% of post-surgical women reached hypoglycemic levels, compared to none in the control group. In the longitudinal arm, seven women underwent identical alcohol/placebo challenges before and ~5 months after surgery. We observed that post-surgery, blood alcohol concentrations (BAC) peaked faster and higher, with ~28% lower alcohol clearance, likely reflecting the loss of fat-free mass. However, the acute decrease of GLP-1 and marked increase of fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) following alcohol intake did not significantly differ before and after surgery. Similarly, alcohol-induced glucose reductions were not more pronounced postoperatively. Together, these findings confirm that acute alcohol consumption reduces endogenous GLP-1 and increases hypoglycemia risk after metabolic surgery. They also suggest that, despite substantial weight loss and improvements in insulin sensitivity post-surgery, acute endocrine responses to alcohol in a fasted state remain largely comparable. These insights support the relevance of gut–brain and liver–brain peptide systems in understanding alcohol's effects and AUD risk in surgical populations. 2025-08 Text https://hdl.handle.net/2142/129981 Copyright 2025 Mariel Molina Castro Food Science & Human Nutrition Food Science & Human Nutrition University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign M.S. Thesis