Original Article

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2008) 62, 892–897; doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602800; published online 16 May 2007

Effect of a moderately hypoenergetic Mediterranean diet and exercise program on body cell mass and cardiovascular risk factors in obese women

Guarantor: A Andreoli.

Contributors: AA, NDD, and SL designed the study. AA and MC were responsible for data collection. SL and NDD were responsible for data collection and supervised analyses of blood samples. RS performed the statistical calculations and data analyses. AA and SLV conducted analyses and wrote the original paper. All authors contributed to interpretation of data and critically revised the paper.

A Andreoli1, S Lauro2, N Di Daniele3, R Sorge4, M Celi3 and S L Volpe5

  1. 1Human Physiology, Department of Neuroscience, University 'Tor Vergata', Rome, Italy
  2. 2Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Department of Medical Oncology, Policlinico S. Andrea, La Sapienza II, Rome, Italy
  3. 3Department of Internal Medicine and Endocrinology, University 'Tor Vergata', Rome, Italy
  4. 4Institute of Medical Informatics, Biometry, Department of Neuroscience, University 'Tor Vergata', Rome, Italy
  5. 5Division of Biobehavioral and Health Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Correspondence: Dr A Andreoli, Human Physiology, Human Nutrition Unit, University of Rome 'Tor Vergata', via Montpellier 1, 00173 Rome, Italy. E-mail: angela.andreoli@uniroma2.it

Received 15 November 2006; Revised 14 March 2007; Accepted 18 April 2007; Published online 16 May 2007.

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Abstract

Objective:

 

To assess the effects of a moderately hypoenergetic Mediterranean diet (MHMD) and exercise program on body cell mass (BCM) and cardiovascular disease risk factors in obese women.

Subjects/Methods:

 

Forty-seven obese women, 39.7plusminus13.2 years of age, with a body mass index (BMI)=30.7plusminus6.0 kg/m2, completed the study. The following were measured at baseline, 2 and 4 months: BCM, BCM index (BCMI), body weight, BMI, fat-free mass (FFM), fat mass (FM), total body water (TBW), extracellular water (ECW) and intracellular water (ICW) using bioelectrical impedance analysis; fasting blood glucose (FBG), serum total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglyceride (TG) concentrations; systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure.

Results:

 

Body weight, BMI, FM, TC and TG significantly decreased (P<0.001; P<0.002 (TG)) at 2 and 4 months. FFM, TBW, ECW, FBG and DBP significantly decreased at 2 months (P<0.05 (FFM); P<0.001). LDL-C significantly decreased (P<0.001), while HDL-C significantly increased (P<0.002) at 4 months. BCM, BCMI, ICW and SBP remained stable over time.

Conclusion:

 

BCM was preserved and cardiovascular disease risk factors improved in obese women placed on a MHMD and exercise program for 4 months.

Keywords:

body cell mass, body mass index, cardiovascular disease risk factors, mediterranean diet, obesity

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