Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Lipoprotein Chemical Composition in Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome: Effects of Diet-induced Weigh Loss

Metabolic syndrome is a clustering of risk factors for the development of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Patients with metabolic syndrome have an increased general low grade inflammation and, consequently, of oxidative stress that affects properties and functions of lipoproteins (Dandona et al 2005). Intentional weight loss can improve or prevent many of the metabolic syndrome-related risk factors and these benefits are often found after weight loss of at least 5% of initial weigh.

Aim: i) to investigate the structure and functionality of plasma lipoproteins, oxidative stress and the inflammatory condition in subjects with BMI between 25kg/mq and 35 kg/mq and with or without metabolic syndrome; and ii) to test the effects of weight loss of at least 5% of initial weigh promoted by an hypo-caloric balanced diet on these parameters.

Methods: Eighty overweight and moderately obese subjects (BMI: 25 - 35 kg/m2) with or without metabolic syndrome were recruited for the study. Fasting blood samples were taken and analyzed for routine laboratory analysis, lipoprotein isolation and analysis, and oxidative stress and inflammation markers measurements. The subjects received an hypo-caloric balanced diet. Fasting blood samples were taken from subjects who had lost at least 5% of their initial weight at the end of the intervention period and analyzed for same markers determined at baseline.