Efficacy of low-calorie, partial meal replacement diet plans on weight and abdominal fat in obese subjects with metabolic syndrome: a double-blind, randomised controlled trial of two diet plans - one high in protein and one nutritionally balanced.
BACKGROUND
Little is known about the relative efficacy of high-protein vs. conventional diet plans that include partial meal replacements on body fat loss in obese subjects with metabolic syndrome.


OBJECTIVE
We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of two low-calorie diets with partial meal replacement plans-a high-protein plan (HP) and a nutritionally balanced conventional (C) plan-on reducing obesity in obese subjects with metabolic syndrome.


METHODS
In a 12-week, double-blind study, we randomised 75 participants to either the HP- or the C-plan group. We recorded key metrics at 0 and 12 weeks.


RESULTS
The overall mean weight loss was 5 kg in the HP-plan group and 4.9 kg in the C-plan group (p = 0.72). Truncal fat mass decreased 1.6 kg in the HP-plan group (p < 0.05) and 1.5 kg in the C-plan group (p < 0.05), while whole body fat mass decreased 2.5 kg in the HP-plan group (p < 0.05) and 2.3 kg in the C-plan group (p < 0.05). Between-group losses did not differ significantly for truncal (p = 0.52) or whole body (p = 0.77) fat mass. Among subjects with > or = 70% dietary compliance, however, truncal and whole body fat mass decreased more in the HP-plan group (Delta 2.2 kg and Delta 3.5 kg respectively) than in the C-plan group (Delta 1.3 kg and Delta 2.3 [corrected] kg respectively) (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The HP- and C-plans had a similar effect on weight and abdominal fat reduction, but the HP-plan was more effective in reducing body fat among compliant subjects.
Lee
K
K
Health Promotion Center, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea.
Lee
J
J
Bae
W K
WK
Choi
J K
JK
Kim
H J
HJ
Cho
B
B
D050153:Abdominal Fat / Q000473:pathology; D050154:Adiposity; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D031204:Caloric Restriction / Q000379:methods; D004038:Diet, Reducing / Q000379:methods; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D010349:Patient Compliance
D004044:Dietary Proteins