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Successful weight maintenance preserves lower levels of oxidized LDL achieved by weight reduction in obese men

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Abstract

Objective:

We studied the association between weight maintenance, oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) and other lipoproteins in obese men.

Methods:

A 2-month weight reduction phase (WRP) with a very-low-energy diet was followed by a 6-month weight maintenance period and an unsupervised 2-year follow-up. Ninety men entered and 68 (76%) completed the study. Subjects were analyzed as one group and after division into two subgroups: 20 most successful men in maintaining the lost weight (subgroup 1) and the remaining (n=48) men (subgroup 2). Ox-LDL was measured by quantifying the amount of conjugated dienes in LDL particles.

Results:

The mean (±s.d.) weight reduction at the end of the WRP (n=68) was 14% (confidence interval (CI) 12.9–14.7%, 14.5±4.2 kg, P<0.001). Ox-LDL decreased by 22% (CI 16.9–28.1, 12.3±15.4 μmol/l, P<0.001). At the end of the 2-year follow-up, the regain in weight from the end of the WRP was 11% (CI 9.0–12.4, 9.6±6.2 kg, P<0.001). The regain in ox-LDL was 30% (CI 18.7–41.2, 8.2±15.4 μmol/l, P<0.001). In subgroup 1 vs 2, the respective regains were 3% (CI 0.9–4.2, 2.2±3.0 kg, P=0.006) vs 14% (CI 12.7–15.6, 12.9±4.0 kg, P<0.001) regarding weight and 9% (2.0±6.9 μmol/l, P=NS) vs 39% (CI 23.7–53.9, 11.2±17.2 μmol/l, P⩽0.001) in ox-LDL.

Conclusion:

The favorable changes seen in ox-LDL particles and serum lipids during weight reduction could be maintained by keeping the weight reduced, which may indicate decreased risk of atherosclerosis. But weight regain causes a resurge of ox-LDL.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported in part by the Juho Vainio Foundation, Finland.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology, Sports Medical Research Unit, Paavo Nurmi Center, University of Turku, Turku, Finland

    M S Linna & T J Vasankari

  2. UKK Institute for Health Promotion Research, Tampere, Finland

    P Borg, K Kukkonen-Harjula, M Fogelholm & A Nenonen

  3. Tampere University Hospital Research Unit, Pirkanmaa Hospital District, Tampere, Finland

    M Fogelholm

  4. Department of Clinical Chemistry, Center of Laboratory Medicine, Tampere, Finland

    A Nenonen

  5. Department of Physiology, MCA Research Laboratory, University of Turku, Turku, Finland

    M Ahotupa

  6. Department of Exercise Medicine, Sports Institute of Finland, Vierumäki, Finland

    T J Vasankari

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  1. M S Linna
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  2. P Borg
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  3. K Kukkonen-Harjula
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Correspondence to M S Linna.

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Linna, M., Borg, P., Kukkonen-Harjula, K. et al. Successful weight maintenance preserves lower levels of oxidized LDL achieved by weight reduction in obese men. Int J Obes 31, 245–253 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0803413

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