title: Weight loss reduces plasma endothelin-1 concentration in obese men.
abstract: Obesity is associated with endothelial dysfunction that may contribute to the development of diabetes, hypertension, and atherosclerosis. Endothelin-1 (ET-1), which is produced mostly by vascular endothelial cells, has potent vasoconstrictor and proliferative activity in vascular smooth muscle cells and, therefore, has been implicated in regulation of vascular tonus and the progression of atherosclerosis, suggesting that ET-1 may be important in endothelial dysfunction. We studied whether diet-induced weight loss (i.e., lifestyle modification) affects plasma ET-1 concentration in obese individuals. We measured plasma ET-1 concentration in seven obese men (age: 48 +/- 4 years old, body mass index: 27.7 +/- 0.5 kg/m2) before and after a 3-month, diet-induced weight reduction program (i.e., lifestyle modification program). Caloric restriction reduced body weight from 78 +/- 3 to 68 +/- 2 kg (P < 0.001) and resulted in 12.1 +/- 1.2% reduction in body mass index (24.3 +/- 0.3 kg/m(2), P < 0.0001). After the weight reduction program, systolic and diastolic blood pressure significantly decreased (128 +/- 7 vs. 115 +/- 4 mm Hg, P < 0.05 and 88 +/- 4 vs. 77 +/- 2 mm Hg, P < 0.01, respectively). The plasma level of ET-1 significantly decreased after the program (5.1 +/- 0.4 vs. 4.0 +/- 0.3 pg/ml, P < 0.05). The percentage systolic blood pressure reduction and percentage plasma ET-1 concentration reduction was in a linear relationship (r = 0.86, P < 0.05). Furthermore, the relationship between percentage weight reduction and percentage plasma ET-1 concentration reduction was linear (r = 0.87, P < 0.05). We conclude that weight loss by low-calorie diet (i.e., lifestyle modification) reduces plasma ET-1 concentration in obese individuals. This reduction may contribute to the improvement of obesity-induced endothelial dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Center for Tsukuba Advanced Research Alliance, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8577, Japan. smaeda@tara.tsukuba.ac.jp
authors.forename: Seiji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maeda
authors.forename: Subrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jesmin
authors.forename: Motoyuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iemitsu
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Otsuki
authors.forename: Tomoaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsuo
authors.forename: Kazunori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ohkawara
authors.forename: Yoshio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakata
authors.forename: Kiyoji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Katsutoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Goto
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miyauchi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity; D015431:Weight Loss
chemical_list: D019332:Endothelin-1