[Anthropometric changes and nitrogen balance in patients with morbid obesity treated with very low calorie diet].
BACKGROUND
Morbid obesity is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. In these patients, weight reduction reduces associated morbidity and increases life expectancy. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the anthropometric changes in a group of patients treated with a very low caloric diet and to assess nitrogen balance and clinical and biological tolerance.


METHODS
Overall 65 patients were prospectively evaluated (12 males and 53 females with a mean age of 45 +/- 7 years. Mean initial weight was 110 +/- 21 kg, with a Quetelet index of 43 +/- 7 kg/m2. They were treated as inpatients during 42 days exclusively with a very low caloric diet. They also followed a physical exercise program during one hour daily.


RESULTS
The weight reduction was 15 +/- 4 kg (p less than 0.0001) with a reduction in fat mass of 9 +/- 2 kg (p less than 0.0001) and a reduction in fat-free mass of 6 +/- 3 kg (p less than 0.0001). The Quetelet index was reduced in 5 +/- 1 points (p less than 0.0001). There was also a reduction in the muscle adipose index from 1 +/- 0.2 to 0.7 +/- 0.2. The nitrogen balance remained negative throughout the 42 study days, although with a clear trend towards equilibrium. There were significant reductions in blood glucose, proteinemia, total cholesterol and subfractions. Triglycerides did not show significant changes. Clinical tolerance was excellent in all cases except 4 who withdraw from treatment because of nausea and vomiting.


CONCLUSIONS
In this study, very low caloric diet achieved satisfactory weight reduction, basically at the expense of adipose tissue, reflected in a reduction of the muscle adipose index. Nitrogen balance remained negative throughout the treatment but with a trend towards normalization. Tolerance was excellent in 61 of the 65 cases (94%).
Formiguera Sala
X
X
Unidad de Trastornos de la Alimentación, Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital de Badalona Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona.
Barbany Cahiz
M
M
Carrillo Blanchar
M
M
Galán Ortega
A
A
Herrero Espeso
P
P
Foz Sala
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000886:Anthropometry; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000178:diet therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D015431:Weight Loss
D009584:Nitrogen
Modificaciones antropométricas y balance de nitrógeno en pacientes con obesidad mórbida tratados con dieta muy baja en calorías.