title: Weight loss reduces circulating asymmetrical dimethylarginine concentrations in morbidly obese women.
abstract: The endogenous nitric oxide-synthase inhibitor asymmetrical dimethyl-L-arginine (ADMA) is elevated in patients with increased risk for arteriosclerosis. Obesity is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. We measured plasma ADMA concentrations in morbidly obese women before and after weight loss following gastroplastic surgery. ADMA and symmetrical dimethyl-L-arginine concentrations were analyzed by HPLC from 34 female patients (age 41 +/- 7 yr) with a body mass index (BMI) of 49 +/- 1 kg/m2 before and 14 months after vertical ring gastroplasty. Age-matched healthy women (BMI < 25 kg/m2; n = 24) were studied as controls. After gastroplastic surgery, BMI decreased to 34 +/- 1 kg/m2 in obese women (P < 0.00001), and ADMA concentrations were reduced from 1.06 +/- 0.06 micromol/liter at baseline to 0.81 +/- 0.04 micromol/liter after weight loss (P < 0.00001). Symmetrical dimethyl-L-arginine plasma levels were not affected. ADMA correlated with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein at baseline (r = 0.42; P < 0.05) and after weight loss (r = 0.56; P < 0.005). No association with blood pressure or plasma lipids could be observed. ADMA concentrations were lower in controls (0.68 +/- 0.04 micromol/liter; P < 0.05) compared with obese patients before or after weight reduction. The decrease of highly elevated ADMA concentrations in morbidly obese patients is paralleled by improvement of parameters associated with the metabolic syndrome after weight loss.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine I, Rudolfstiftung Hospital, 1030 Vienna, Austria. katarzyna.krzyzanowska@wienkav.at
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Krzyzanowska
authors.forename: Friedrich
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mittermayer
authors.forename: Hans-Peter
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Kopp
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wolzt
authors.forename: Guntram
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schernthaner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005260:Female; D015391:Gastroplasty; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D015431:Weight Loss
chemical_list: C018524:N,N-dimethylarginine; D001120:Arginine