Early decreases in plasma lipid transfer proteins during weight reduction.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effect of short-term weight loss in obese women on concentrations of plasma cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) and phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP), two new risk factors for cardiovascular disease.


METHODS
Plasma CETP and PLTP mass concentrations were measured in 38 obese, non-diabetic women before and after a moderate, 4% weight loss that was obtained by a 1250 kcal/d diet for 4 weeks. Anthropometric and biological parameters were measured before and after weight loss.


RESULTS
Plasma CETP concentration decreased substantially after weight loss (2.76 +/- 0.79 before and 2.31 +/- 0.69 mg/L after; p = 0.000), and the same was true for plasma PLTP concentration (9.01 +/- 2.44 mg/L before vs. 8.34 +/- 2.57 after; p = 0.043). The HDL profile shifted toward the small-sized range, with significant decreases in the relative abundance of HDL(2b) and HDL(2a) at the expense of HDL(3b) after weight loss. A significant, positive correlation between CETP and PLTP mass concentrations is reported for the first time in obese patients (r = 0.43, p = 0.004), and weight reduction was accompanied by early, concomitant, and parallel decreases in plasma CETP and PLTP levels (r = 0.47, p = 0.003). The significant relationship between CETP and PLTP levels was lost after the dietary intervention (r = 0.27; p = 0.11).


CONCLUSIONS
CETP and PLTP correlate positively and significantly in obese patients. The hypocaloric dietary manipulation constitutes a relevant intervention to reduce rapidly and simultaneously plasma levels of CETP and PLTP. The impact of reduced PLTP activity on HDL size appeared to be more prominent than the impact of concomitant reduction in CETP activity.
Tzotzas
Themistoklis
T
Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. tzotzas@otenet.gr
Dumont
Laure
L
Triantos
Athanasios
A
Karamouzis
Michael
M
Constantinidis
Theodoros
T
Lagrost
Laurent
L
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D031204:Caloric Restriction; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D053480:Cholesterol Ester Transfer Proteins / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy*; D049294:Phospholipid Transfer Proteins / Q000097:blood; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000502:physiology*
C506642:CETP protein, human; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D053480:Cholesterol Ester Transfer Proteins; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D049294:Phospholipid Transfer Proteins; C030363:lipid transfer protein