Effect of a moderately hypoenergetic Mediterranean diet and exercise program on body cell mass and cardiovascular risk factors in obese women.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effects of a moderately hypoenergetic Mediterranean diet (MHMD) and exercise program on body cell mass (BCM) and cardiovascular disease risk factors in obese women.


METHODS
Forty-seven obese women, 39.7+/-13.2 years of age, with a body mass index (BMI)=30.7+/-6.0 kg/m(2), completed the study. The following were measured at baseline, 2 and 4 months: BCM, BCM index (BCMI), body weight, BMI, fat-free mass (FFM), fat mass (FM), total body water (TBW), extracellular water (ECW) and intracellular water (ICW) using bioelectrical impedance analysis; fasting blood glucose (FBG), serum total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglyceride (TG) concentrations; systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure.


RESULTS
Body weight, BMI, FM, TC and TG significantly decreased (P<0.001; P<0.002 (TG)) at 2 and 4 months. FFM, TBW, ECW, FBG and DBP significantly decreased at 2 months (P<0.05 (FFM); P<0.001). LDL-C significantly decreased (P<0.001), while HDL-C significantly increased (P<0.002) at 4 months. BCM, BCMI, ICW and SBP remained stable over time.


CONCLUSIONS
BCM was preserved and cardiovascular disease risk factors improved in obese women placed on a MHMD and exercise program for 4 months.
Andreoli
A
A
Human Physiology, Department of Neuroscience, University Tor Vergata, via Montpellier 1, Rome, Italy. angela.andreoli@uniroma2.it
Lauro
S
S
Di Daniele
N
N
Sorge
R
R
Celi
M
M
Volpe
S L
SL
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D038441:Diet, Mediterranean; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D017097:Electric Impedance; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000628:therapy*; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000502:physiology*
D015415:Biomarkers; D008055:Lipids