Effect of the Mediterranean diet with and without weight loss on cardiovascular risk factors in men with the metabolic syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
No study has yet examined how weight loss modifies the impact of the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) on cardiovascular risk factors in men with the metabolic syndrome (MetS). The objective of the study was to assess the efficacy of MedDiet, with and without weight loss, to modify the cardiometabolic risk profile of male patients with MetS.


RESULTS
Twenty-six men aged between 24 and 62 years with the MetS consumed a North American control diet for 5 weeks followed by a 5-week MedDiet, both under weight-maintaining conditions. Participants then underwent a 20-week weight loss period, after which they consumed the MedDiet for five weeks under weight stable conditions. Body weight was reduced by 10.2% ± 2.9% after the weight loss period (p < 0.001). All foods were provided to participants during the weight stable phases of the study. The MedDiet in the absence of weight loss decreased total plasma cholesterol (C) (-7.1%), LDL-C (-9.3%) and the total/HDL-C ratio (-6.5%) compared to the control diet (all p < 0.04). The MedDiet combined with weight loss led to reductions in systolic blood pressure (-4.7%), diastolic blood pressure (-7.7%), triglycerides (-18.2%), ApoB (-10.7%), fasting glucose (-4.2%) and insulin (-29.9%) compared to the control diet (all p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The MedDiet in the absence of weight loss leads to significant changes in plasma cholesterol concentrations but has little effects on other cardiometabolic risk factors associated with the MetS in men.
Richard
C
C
Institute of Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods, Laval University, 2440 boulevard Hochelaga, Québec, Canada.
Couture
P
P
Desroches
S
S
Charest
A
A
Lamarche
B
B
D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D001055:Apolipoproteins B / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D031204:Caloric Restriction; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D038441:Diet, Mediterranean; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000150:complications; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D014280:Triglycerides; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000187:drug effects*; D055815:Young Adult
D001055:Apolipoproteins B; D001786:Blood Glucose; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D014280:Triglycerides