title: Internal Fat and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors Following a Meal-Replacement Regimen vs. Comprehensive Lifestyle Changes in Obese Subjects.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of a meal-replacement regimen vs. comprehensive lifestyle changes in overweight or obese subjects on intra-abdominal fat stores (Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) measurements) and cardiometabolic risk factors. Forty-two obese men (n = 18) and women (n = 24) (age 49 ± 8 years; weight 96.3 ± 12.1 kg; BMI 32.7 ± 2.3 kg/m2) were selected for this randomized parallel-group design investigation. Subjects in the lifestyle group (LS-G; n = 22) received dietary counselling sessions and instructions how to increase physical activity. In the meal replacement group (MR-G; n = 20) meals were replaced by a low-calorie drink high in soy protein. After six months, subjects in the LS-G lost 8.88 ± 6.24 kg and subjects in the MR-G lost 7.1 ± 2.33 kg; p < 0.01 for changes within groups; no significant differences were found between the groups. Lean body mass remained constant in both intervention groups. MRI analyses showed that internal fat was significantly reduced in both groups to a comparable amount; the higher fat loss in the LS-G in the abdominal area was due to a higher reduction in subcutaneous fat. Both interventions significantly reduced components of the cardiometabolic risk profile and leptin levels. The decrease in the adipokines fetuin A and resistin was more pronounced in the MR-G. In conclusion, both interventions significantly reduced body weight, total fat mass and internal abdominal fat while preserving lean body mass. The reduction in the adipokines fetuin A and resistin was more pronounced in the meal replacement group suggesting an additional effect of soy protein components.
authors.affiliation: Department for Nutrition, Institute for Sports and Sports Science, University of Freiburg, Schwarzwaldstr. 175, 79117 Freiburg, Germany. Daniel.Koenig@uniklinik-freiburg.de.|Department of Exercise and Sports Medicine, Centre for Internal Medicine, University Hospital Freiburg, Hugstetterstr. 175, 79106 Freiburg, Germany. Daniel.Koenig@uniklinik-freiburg.de.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: König
authors.affiliation: Department for Nutrition, Institute for Sports and Sports Science, University of Freiburg, Schwarzwaldstr. 175, 79117 Freiburg, Germany. Denise.Zdzieblik@sport.uni-freiburg.de.
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zdzieblik
authors.affiliation: Department of Exercise and Sports Medicine, Centre for Internal Medicine, University Hospital Freiburg, Hugstetterstr. 175, 79106 Freiburg, Germany. Peter.Deibert@uniklinik-freiburg.de.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Deibert
authors.affiliation: Department for Nutrition, Institute for Sports and Sports Science, University of Freiburg, Schwarzwaldstr. 175, 79117 Freiburg, Germany. berg.aloys@web.de.
authors.forename: Aloys
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Berg
authors.affiliation: Department for Nutrition, Institute for Sports and Sports Science, University of Freiburg, Schwarzwaldstr. 175, 79117 Freiburg, Germany. AG@sport.uni-freiburg.de.
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gollhofer
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology-Medical Physics, University Medical Center Freiburg, Breisacher Straße 60a, 79106 Freiburg, Germany. Martin.Buechert@uniklinik-freiburg.de.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Büchert
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D031204:Caloric Restriction; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D062407:Meals; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000178:diet therapy*; D012307:Risk Factors; D015431:Weight Loss
keywords: lifestyle intervention; meal replacement; metabolic syndrome; visceral fat