Serum bFGF levels are reduced in Japanese overweight men and restored by a 6-month exercise education.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether the changes in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) concentrations before and after weight reduction in Japanese overweight men are associated with changes in body mass index (BMI), visceral, subcutaneous fat, VO(2) and work rate (WR) at ventilatory threshold (VT).


METHODS
Cross-sectional and longitudinal clinical intervention study with exercise education.


METHODS
In total, 30 Japanese overweight men (BMI, 29.0+/-2.2 kg/m(2)) and 31 normal-weight men (BMI, 22.5+/-1.6 kg/m(2)) at baseline were enrolled: 30 overweight men (BMI, 29.0+/-2.2 kg/m(2)) were further enrolled into a 6-month exercise program.


METHODS
Fat distribution evaluated by visceral fat (V) and subcutaneous fat (S) areas measured with computed tomography scanning at umbilical levels, angiogenic peptides including VEGF and bFGF, exercise tests at baseline and after 6 months.


RESULTS
In normal-weight and overweight subjects at baseline, VEGF positively correlated with S area (r=0.350, P=0.007) but not with V area. In contrast, bFGF negatively correlated with BMI (r=-0.619, P<0.001), S (r=-0.457, P<0.001) and V areas (r=-0.466, P<0.001). By intervention with exercise education, 30 overweight subjects showed reduction in BMI (29.0+/-2.2 to 28.0+/-2.0, P<0.001), V and S areas, increase in VO(2) and WR at VT, increase in bFGF (9.21+/-5.82-21.2+/-7.04 ng/ml, P<0.001), and no change in VEGF (1.45+/-0.72-1.88+/-0.52 ng/ml, P=0.016). The stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that DeltaBMI (beta=-6.052) and DeltaVO(2) (beta=2.806) were independently related to DeltabFGF (P<0.001) and all other variables including DeltaS area, and DeltaV area, and DeltaWR did not enter the equation at significant levels.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study indicated a negative correlation between serum bFGF levels and BMI at baseline as well as an association of DeltaBMI and DeltaVO(2) with DeltabFGF after exercise intervention. The exercise-induced elevation of bFGF may be beneficial in the prevention of the atherosclerosis in overweight subjects.
Department of Medicine and Clinical Science, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine and Dentistry, Shikata-cho, Okayama, Japan.
A
A
Seida
J
J
Wada
M
M
Kunitomi
Y
Y
Tsuchiyama
N
N
Miyatake
M
M
Fujii
S
S
Kira
K
K
Takahashi
K
K
Shikata
H
H
Makino
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D043169:Endostatins / Q000097:blood; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood; D015431:Weight Loss
D043169:Endostatins; D007328:Insulin; D020738:Leptin; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2