title: Weight loss in combination with physical activity improves endothelial dysfunction in human obesity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test whether weight loss may improve endothelial dysfunction in human obesity, we recruited 28 healthy obese subjects, aged 30-46 years, with BMI 30-43 kg/m(2).
  
  
  METHODS
  Endothelium-dependent and -independent vasodilation were investigated by intra-arterial infusion of increasing doses of acetylcholine (ACh; 7.5, 15, and 30 microg x ml(-1) x min(-1)) and sodium nitroprusside (0.8, 1.6, and 3.2 microg x ml(-1) x min(-1)). Insulin resistance was estimated by homeostasis model assessment (HOMA). Weight loss was obtained by caloric restriction and physical activity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We observed a significant reduction in BMI (from 33.1 +/- 4.2 to 27.5 +/- 4.5 kg/m(2), -16.9%, P < 0.0001) and in waist circumference (from 108.2 +/- 12.1 to 96.8 +/- 12.9 cm, -10.5%, P < 0.0001). Weight loss was also associated with a significant increase in ACh-stimulated forearm blood flow (FBF), from 7.4 +/- 2.8 to 12.9 +/- 3.4 ml. 100 ml(-1) of tissue x min(-1) kg/m(2) (P < 0.0001). Multivariate regression analysis demonstrated that the only independent predictor of FBF was HOMA, accounting for 44.5% of the variation, whereas the addition of BMI explained another 2.3% of the variation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data demonstrate that energy-restricted diet associated with physical activity induce a significant and clinically relevant improvement in ACh-stimulated vasodilation in obese healthy subjects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine G. Salvatore, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sciacqua
authors.forename: Mafalda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Candigliota
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ceravolo
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scozzafava
authors.forename: Flora
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sinopoli
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Corsonello
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sesti
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Perticone
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000328:Adult; D001824:Body Constitution; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015444:Exercise; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D005542:Forearm / Q000098:blood supply; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D007558:Italy; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009599:Nitroprusside / Q000494:pharmacology; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D012044:Regression Analysis; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D015431:Weight Loss; D044465:White People
chemical_list: D009599:Nitroprusside; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; D000109:Acetylcholine