effect of a reduced-calorie diet on plasma levels of inflammatory and metabolic factors in overweight/obese patients with cardiovascular risk factors

Background: calorie restriction without malnutrition is likely to improve cardiovascular risk factors. objectives: the aim of this study was to investigate calorie restriction on markers of cardiometabolic risk in overweight/obese adults with cardiovascular risk factors. methods: in a parallel controlled trial, patients with overweight or obesity and one or more cardiovascular risk factor were randomized to a modest reduced-calorie diet (75% of the total calculated energy requirements) or control (no calorie restriction) groups and followed up for two months. body weight, dietary intake, fasting plasma levels of c-reactive protein (crp), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (mcp-1), intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (icam-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (vcam-1), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (bdnf), neuropeptide y (npy), lipids, and glycemic factors were measured at baseline, and after two months. the differences were analyzed with analysis of covariance (ancova). results: sixty-six participants (33 in each group) completed the study. body weight changed in the reduced-calorie diet group (- 3.05 ± 2.65 kg), and blood pressure was improved (systolic -6.96 ± 12.04 and diastolic - 3.90 ± 8.97 mmhg). the reduced-calorie diet improved plasma icam-1 (change from baseline - 0.45 ± 1.99 ng/ml, p = 0.033, ancova), mcp-1 (change from baseline - 0.50 pg/ml, p = 0.011, ancova), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (change from baseline - 9.35 ± 19.61 mg/dl, p < 0.001, ancova), and triglyceride (change from baseline -33.66 ± 49.08, p = 0.001, ancova), but bdnf, npy, and other cardiometabolic factors were not different. conclusions: in overweight/obese subjects with cardiovascular risk factors which have been under medical treatment with risk-reducing medications, a modest weight loss induced by a reduced-calorie diet improved lipid profile, blood pressure, and reduced icam-1 and mcp-1 levels but had no effect on plasma bdnf or glycemic factors.