Effect of weight loss on inflammatory and endothelial markers and FMD using two low-fat diets

• Published in: International Journal of Obesity Vol. 29; no. 12; pp. 1445 - 1451
• Main Authors: CLIFTON, P. M, KEOGH, J. B, FOSTER, P. R, NOAKES, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basingstoke Nature Publishing 01.12.2005; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: Adhesion; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers - blood; Blood Flow Velocity - physiology; Blood pressure; Body Mass Index; Brachial Artery - diagnostic imaging; Brachial Artery - physiopathology; Cardiovascular diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases - blood; Cardiovascular Diseases - prevention & control; Diet; Diet, Fat-Restricted; Diet, Reducing - methods; Female; Health risks; Humans; Insulin; Lipids; Male; Medical sciences; Metabolic diseases; Middle Aged; Obesity; Obesity - blood; Obesity - diet therapy; Obesity - physiopathology; Research methods; Risk Factors; Ultrasonography; Vasodilation - physiology; Wave velocity; Weight Loss - physiology; Human; endothelial function; Obesity; Endothelial cell; Nutrition; Nutrition disorder; Weight loss; Cell adhesion molecule; Biological marker; Lipids; Inflammation; Arterial pulse; Triglyceride; pulse wave velocity; Feeding; Diet; adhesion molecules; Cardiovascular risk; Blood pressure; Wave velocity; FMD; Nutritional status
• ISSN: 0307-0565; 1476-5497
• DOI: 10.1038/sj.ijo.0803039

Cardiovascular disease is strongly associated with obesity and there is evidence that weight loss has positive effects on cardiovascular disease risk. The aims of this study were to compare meal replacements (MR) with a conventional low-fat diet as weight loss strategies and to examine the effect of weight loss on flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) and other markers of endothelial function in overweight Australians with raised triglycerides (TG) (> 2 mmol/l). Subjects matched for age, gender, fasting plasma TG and body mass index were randomized to two low- fat high- carbohydrate weight loss strategies (both < 6000 kJ), one using MR and the other a structured eating plan, control (C). Subjects followed both diets for 3 months. In total, 55 subjects completed the study. FMD, pulse wave velocity and blood pressure (BP) were measured at baseline and at 3 months, as were fasting blood samples for lipids, glucose, insulin, C reactive protein (CRP) and endothelium-derived factors. Mean weight loss was 6.3 +/- 3.7 kg (6.0 +/- 4.2 vs 6.63 +/- 3.35 kg, MR vs C) with no difference between diet groups. TG, insulin, CRP, plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) and soluble intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM1) fell after weight loss, but FMD did not change. Systolic BP fell by 8 mmHg and pulse wave velocity improved. In subjects with elevated TG, weight loss resulted in significant improvements in cardiovascular risk markers, particularly endothelium-derived factors (PAI-1 and sICAM1). However, FMD did not improve with weight loss.