Effect of Calorie-restricted Diet and Exercise Intervention vs Exercise on the Knee Function of Metabolic Syndrome Patients With Degenerate Meniscus Lesions, a Randomized Controlled Study

The CR diet and exercise group received a balanced diet with an energy consists carbohydrates 45-65%; fat 20-35%; and protein 10- 35% and a deficit of 600 kcal/day from their daily energy requirement. Total daily energy intake of 1200-2000 kcal/day were based on baseline weight, and for safety, no woman was provided with less than 1100 kcals/d and no man less than 1300 kcals/d. The energy of the intake calorie restricted diet per day was calculated based on the detailed composition of meals, such as rice, vegetables, eggs, pork, and beef, using the Chinese food composition tables. Our diets were cooked with traditional Chinese cooking methods such as boiling, stir-frying, and stewing. During the intervention, other lipid-lowering drugs were not allowed to intake supplement as it alters the outcome. Participants receive education or counseling by a dietitian for modulations of their caloric intake weekly.

The exercise intervention included aerobic exercises and resistance exercise, flexibility exercises about 150 minutes for ≥2 d/week for 6 months. The aerobic exercises included walking on a treadmill, stationary cycling for at least 30 minutes for≥2 d/week. Resistance exercises included nine upper-extremity and lower-extremity exercise with weighting lift machines for ≥2 d/week, while, flexibility exercise including the major muscle-tendon groups (a total of 60 s per exercise) for ≥2 d/week. Participants performed 1 or 2 sets with 8-12 repetitions of each exercise. The exercise sessions were monitored by telephone video. Patients who complete at least 80% of diet restriction and exercise were included in analysis. Calorie restricted diet and exercise group contain both the above intervention.