title: Short-term caloric restriction induces accumulation of myocardial triglycerides and decreases left ventricular diastolic function in healthy subjects.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Diabetes and obesity are associated with increased plasma nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA) levels, myocardial triglyceride accumulation, and myocardial dysfunction. Because a very low-calorie diet (VLCD) also increases plasma NEFA levels, we studied the effect of a VLCD on myocardial triglyceride content and cardiac function in healthy subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen healthy nonobese men underwent (1)H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to determine myocardial and hepatic triglyceride content, (31)P-MRS to assess myocardial high-energy phosphate (HEP) metabolism (phosphocreatine/ATP), and magnetic resonance imaging of myocardial function at baseline and after a 3-day VLCD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After the dietary intervention, plasma NEFA levels increased compared with those at baseline (from 0.5 +/- 0.1 to 1.1 +/- 0.1 mmol/l, P < 0.05). Concomitantly, myocardial triglyceride content increased by approximately 55% compared with that at baseline (from 0.38 +/- 0.05 to 0.59 +/- 0.06%, P < 0.05), whereas liver triglyceride content decreased by approximately 32% (from 2.2 +/- 0.5 to 1.5 +/- 0.4%, P < 0.05). The VLCD did not change myocardial phosphocreatine-to-ATP ratio (2.33 +/- 0.15 vs. 2.33 +/- 0.08, P > 0.05) or systolic function. Interestingly, deceleration of the early diastolic flow across the mitral valve decreased after the VLCD (from 3.37 +/- 0.20 to 2.91 +/- 0.16 ml/s(2) x 10(-3), P < 0.05). This decrease in diastolic function was significantly correlated with the increase in myocardial triglyceride content.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Short-term VLCD induces accumulation of myocardial triglycerides. In addition, VLCD decreases left ventricular diastolic function, without alterations in myocardial HEP metabolism. This study documents diet-dependent physiological variations in myocardial triglyceride content and diastolic function in healthy subjects.
authors: Department of Radiology, C2S, Leiden University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, Netherlands. r.W.van_der_meer@lumc.nl
authors: Rutger W
authors: RW
authors: van der Meer
authors: Sebastiaan
authors: S
authors: Hammer
authors: Johannes W A
authors: JW
authors: Smit
authors: Marijke
authors: M
authors: Frölich
authors: Jeroen J
authors: JJ
authors: Bax
authors: Michaela
authors: M
authors: Diamant
authors: Luuk J
authors: LJ
authors: Rijzewijk
authors: Albert
authors: A
authors: de Roos
authors: Johannes A
authors: JA
authors: Romijn
authors: Hildo J
authors: HJ
authors: Lamb
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D004562:Electrocardiography; D002149:Energy Intake; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism*; D018579:Patient Selection; D012016:Reference Values; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000378:metabolism*; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D014280:Triglycerides