Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Article
  • Published:

Monounsaturated fat-rich diet reduces body adiposity in women with obesity, but does not influence energy expenditure and substrate oxidation: a parallel randomized controlled clinical trial

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 78, pages 335–343 (2024)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background

Obesity is an important and growing health problem whose treatment involves dietary changes. In this context, studying the role of macronutrients in weight loss is required in order to understand which strategies may be applied for weight loss. We aimed to evaluate the effects of diets rich in polyunsaturated (PUFAs) and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) on resting energy expenditure (REE), substrate oxidation, and weight loss in women with obesity.

Methods

Randomized, controlled, single blind, parallel-group clinical trial was conducted for 60 days. Participants (n = 32) were divided into three groups: G1= normocaloric PUFAs-rich diet (12% of total energy expenditure (TEE), 10% of n-6 and up to 2% of n-3); G2= normocaloric MUFAs-rich diet (15–20% TEE); and G3= maintenance of the usual diet. Anthropometric and metabolic variables (REE and substrate oxidation by indirect calorimetry) were evaluated.

Results

G2 decreased body weight (−1.92 ± 1.99 kg, P = 0.02), body mass index (BMI) (−0.69 ± 0.70 kg/m2; P = 0.02), waist circumference (WC) (−1.91 ± 1.82 cm; P = 0.02), and body fat (−1.14 ± 1.53 kg; P = 0.04).

Conclusion

MUFAs-rich diet reduces body weight, BMI, body fat, and WC. Clinical Trials: NCT02656940.

Clinical trial registration

Clinical Trials: NCT02656940.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on SpringerLink
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Fig. 1: Assessment of acidity and peroxide index of extra-virgin olive oil.
Fig. 2: Assessment of acidity and peroxide index of extra-virgin olive and soybean oil.
Fig. 3: Representative scheme of recruitment and selection of volunteers.
Fig. 4: Composition of plasma fatty acids (%) in baseline and changes after dietary intervention in G1, G2, and G3.

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

References

  1. Matarese LE, Pories WJ. Adult weight loss diets: metabolic effects and outcomes. Nutr Clin Pract. 2014;29:759–67.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Tay J, Brinkworth GD, Noakes M, Keogh J, Clifton PM. Metabolic effects of weight loss on a very-low-carbohydrate diet compared with an isocaloric high-carbohydrate diet in abdominally obese subjects. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2008;51:59–67.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Kerksick CM, Wismann-Bunn J, Fogt D, Thomas AR, Taylor L, Campbell BI, et al. Changes in weight loss, body composition and cardiovascular disease risk after altering macronutrient distributions during a regular exercise program in obese women. Nutr J. 2010;9:59–78.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  4. de Luis D, Izaola O, Primo D, Aller R. A randomized trial with two hypocaloric diets with different lipid profiles and effects on serum omentin-1 levels in obese subjects. Dis Markers. 2022;2022:6777283.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  5. Yang Q, Lang X, Li W, Liang Y. The effects of low-fat, high-carbohydrate diets vs. low-carbohydrate, high-fat diets on weight, blood pressure, serum liquids and blood glucose: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2021;76:16–27.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Logan SL, Spriet LL. Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation for 12 weeks increases resting and exercise metabolic rate in healthy community-dwelling older females. PLoS One. 2015;10:e0144828.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  7. Rust BM, Raatz SK, Casperson SL, Duke SE, Picklo MJ. Dietary fat chain length, saturation, and PUFA source acutely diet-induced thermogenesis but not satiety in adults in a randomized, crossover trial. Nutrients. 2021;13:2615.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  8. Smith-Ryan AE, Hirsh KR, Blue MNM, Mock MG, Trexler ET. High-fat breakfast meal replacement in overweight and obesity: implications on body composition, metabolic markers, and satiety. Nutrients. 2019;11:865.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  9. Austel A, Ranke C, Wagner N, Görge J, Ellrott T. Weight loss with a modified Mediterranean-type diet using fat modification: a randomized controlled trial. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2015;69:878–84.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Krishnan S, Cooper JA. Effect of dietary fatty acid composition on susbtrate utilization and body weight maintenance in humans. Eur J Nutr. 2014;53:691–710.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Tutunchi H, Ostadrahimi A, Saghafi-Asl M. The effect of diets enriched in monounsaturated oleicacid on the management and prevention of obesity: a systematic review of human intervention studies. Adv Nutr. 2020;11:864–77.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  12. Salman HB, Salman MA, Akal EY. The effect of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on weight loss and cognitive function in overweight or obese individuals on weight-loss diet. Nutr Hosp. 2022;39:803–13.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Bellenger J, Bellenger S, Escoula Q, Bidu C, Narce M. N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids: An innovative strategy against obesity and related metabolic disorders, intestinal alteration and gut microbiota dysbiosis. Biochimie. 2019;159:66–71.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Weir JB. New methods for calculating metabolic rate with special reference to protein metabolism. J Physiol. 1949;109:1–9.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  15. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). World Health Organization (WHO). United Nations University (UNU). Human energy requirements. Report of a joint FAO/WHO/UNU expert consultation. Rome: FAO; 2001. [Food and Nutrition Technical Report Series 1.].

  16. Núcleo de Estudos e Pesquisa em Alimentação (NEPA). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Tabela brasileira de composição de alimentos (Brazilian table of food composition - Portuguese). versão II. 2th ed. NEPA-UNICAMP, Campinas, SP.

  17. Associação Brasileira para o Estudo da Obesidade e da Síndrome Metabólica (ABESO) (2016) Diretrizes brasileiras de obesidade 2016 (Brazilian obesity guidelines 2016-Portuguese). 4th ed. São Paulo, SP. 2006.

  18. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Fats and fatty acids in human nutrition, Report of an expert consultation. Rome: FAO; 2010.

  19. Xu Z, Harvey K, Pavlina T, Dutot G, Zaloga G, Siddiqui R. An improved method for determining medium- and long-chain FAMEs using gas chromatography. Lipids. 2010;45:199–208.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. American Oil Chemists Society (AOCS). AOCS Official Method Ce 2b-11. Sampling and analysis of commercial fats and oils. Direct methylation of lipids in foods by alkali hydrolysis. Champaign, USA: American Oil Chemists Society; 2011.

  21. Instituto Adolfo Lutz. Métodos físico-químicos para análise de alimentos (Physical and chemical methods for food analysis - Portuguese). 4th ed. Instituto Adolfo Lutz: São Paulo; 2008.

  22. Brasil. Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária (ANVISA). Resolução RDC no 270 de 22 de setembro de 2005 (Resolution RDC no 270 of September 22, 2005 - Portuguese). Brasília, DF: Diário Oficial da União, Poder Executivo; 2005.

  23. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Agricultural Research Service. National nutrient database for standard reference, release 20. 2007. Nutrient Data Laboratory Home Page. http://www.ars.usda.gov/ba/bhnrc/ndl. Accessed November 2014.

  24. Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas. Departamento de Alimentos e Nutrição Experimental/BRASILFOODS. Tabela brasileira de composição de alimentos versão 5.0 (Brazilian food composition table version 5.0- Portuguese). USP, São Paulo. 2008. Internet: http://www.fcf.usp.br/tabela/. Accessed November 2014.

  25. Philippi ST. Tabela de composição de alimentos: suporte para decisão nutricional (Foodcompositiontable: support for nutritional decision - Portuguese). 2th ed. São Paulo: Coronário; 2002.

  26. Compher C, Frankenfield D, Keim N, Roth-Yousey L. Evidence Analysis Working Group. Best practice methods to apply to measurement of resting metabolic rate in adults: a systematic review. J Am Diet Assoc. 2006;106:881–903.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Jéquier E, Acheson K, Schutz Y. Assessment of energy expenditure and fuel utilization in man. Ann Rev Nutr. 1987;7:187–208.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Jones PJ, Schoeller DA. Polyunsaturated: saturated ratio of diet fat influences energy substrate utilization in the human. Metabolism. 1988;37:145–51.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. World Health Organization (WHO). Obesity: preventing and managing the global epidemic. Report of a WHO Consultation on Obesity. WHO Technical Report Series, no 894. Geneva: WHO; 2000.

  30. Segal KR, Van Loan M, Fitzgerald PI, Hodgdon JA, Van Itallie TB. Lean body mass estimation by bioelectrical impedance analysis: a four-site cross-validation study. Am J Clin Nutr. 1988;47:7–14.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Chan YH. Biostatistics 101: data presentation. Singapore Med J. 2003;44:280–285.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Chan YH. Biostatistics 102: quantitative data – parametric & non-parametric tests. Singapore Med J. 2003;44:391–96.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Piers LS, Walker KZ, Stoney RM, Soares MJ, O’Dea K. Substitution of saturated with monounsaturated fat in a 4-week diet affects body weight and composition of overweight and obese men. Br J Nutr. 2033;90:717–27.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Weech M, Vafeiadou K, Hasaj M, Todd S, Yaqoob P, Jackson KG, et al. Development of a food-exchange model to replace saturated fat with MUFAs and n-6 PUFAs in adults at moderate cardiovascular risk. J Nutr. 2014;144:846–55.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. DeLany JP, Windhauser MM, Champagne CM, Bray GA. Differential oxidation of individual dietary fatty acids in humans. Am J Clin Nutr. 2000;72:905–11.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Tapsell L, Batterham M, Huang XF, Tan SY, Teuss G, Charlton K, et al. Short term effects of energy restriction and dietary fat sub-type on weight loss and disease risk factors. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2010;20:317–25.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Tan SY, Batterham M, Tapsell L. Increased intake of dietary polyunsaturated fat does not promote whole body or preferential abdominal fat mass loss in overweight adults. Obes Facts. 2011;4:352–57.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  38. Maljaars J, Romeyn EA, Haddeman E, Peters HP, Masclee AA. Effect of fat saturation on satiety, hormone release, and food intake. Am J Clin Nutr. 2009;89:1019–24.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Paniagua JA, De La Sacristana AG, Romero I, Vidal-Puig A, Latre JM, Sánchez E, et al. Monounsaturated fat-rich diet prevents central body fat distribution and decreases postprandial adiponectin expression induced by a carbohydrate-rich diet in insulin-resistant subjects. Diabetes Care. 2007;30:1717–23.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Thorsdottir I, Tomasson H, Gunnarsdottir I, Gisladottir E, Kiely M, Parra MD, et al. Randomized trial of weight-loss-diets for young adults varying in fish and fish oil content. Int J Obes. 2007;31:1560–66.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Tapsell LC, Batterham MJ, Charlton KE, Neale EP, Probst YC, O’Shea JE, et al. Foods, nutrients or whole diets: effects of targeting fish and LCn3PUFA consumption in a 12mo weight loss trial. BMC Public Health. 2013;13:1231.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  42. Crochemore IC, Souza AF, de Souza AC, Rosado EL. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation does not influence body composition, insulin resistance, and lipemia in women with type 2 diabetes and obesity. Nutr Clin. 2012;27:553–60.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank for Officilab® (RJ, Brazil) and Vital Âtman® (SP, Brazil) for provide the supplements used by volunteers in this research.

Funding

Funding

This work was supported by the Carlos Chagas Filho Foundation for Research Support of the State of Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ / RJ, Brazil); National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq / Brasília, DF, Brazil).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Nutritional Assessment, Institute of Nutrition Josué de Castro, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, 373 Carlos Chagas Filho Avenue, Sector J, 2nd floor, University City, Rio de Janeiro, 21941-902, Brazil

    Marcelly Cunha Oliveira dos Santos Lopes & Vanessa Chaia Kaippert

  2. Nutrition and Dietetics Department, Institute of Nutrition Josué de Castro, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, 373 Carlos Chagas Filho Avenue, Sector J, 2nd floor, University City, Rio de Janeiro, 21941-902, Brazil

    Louise Crovesy & Eliane Lopes Rosado

  3. Laboratory of Endocrine Physiology Doris Rosenthal, Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, 373 Carlos Chagas Filho Avenue, Sector G, University City, Rio de Janeiro, 21941-902, Brazil

    Denise Pires de Carvalho

Authors
  1. Marcelly Cunha Oliveira dos Santos Lopes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Vanessa Chaia Kaippert
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Louise Crovesy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Denise Pires de Carvalho
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Eliane Lopes Rosado
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

MCOSL concived and designed the experiments, contributed to data extraction, data analysis, and helped write the manuscript, VCK concived and designed the experiments, contributed to data extraction, data analysis, and helped write the manuscript, LC contributed to data extraction and helped write the manuscript, DPC contributed reagentes and materials, provided feedback on the report, ELR concived and designed the experiments, data analysis and provided feedback on the report designed experiments and helped write the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marcelly Cunha Oliveira dos Santos Lopes.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Publisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Lopes, M.C.O.d.S., Kaippert, V.C., Crovesy, L. et al. Monounsaturated fat-rich diet reduces body adiposity in women with obesity, but does not influence energy expenditure and substrate oxidation: a parallel randomized controlled clinical trial. Eur J Clin Nutr 78, 335–343 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-024-01401-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-024-01401-3

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links