Effects of weight loss from a high-calcium energy-reduced diet on biomarkers of inflammatory stress, fibrinolysis, and endothelial function in obese subjects (2012)

20 de maio de 2012 às 12:58

Autores: Márcia Regina Simas Gonçalves Torres1, Antonio Felipe Sanjuliani2

1 Department of Applied Nutrition, Nutrition Institute, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
2 Discipline of Clinical and Experimental Pathophysiology, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Abstract

Objective: Obesity is characterized by chronic subclinical inflammation, which is critical to endothelial dysfunction. Weight loss, induced by lifestyle interventions, is associated with a decline in biomarkers of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction. There is little evidence that high dietary calcium intake may reduce inflammation and improve endothelial function. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of weight loss from a high-calcium energy-reduced diet on biomarkers of inflammation, fibrinolysis, and endothelial function in obese individuals.

Methods: In this randomized clinical trial, we analyzed the data from 35 obese adults who lost at least 3% of initial body weight, during a period of 16 wk of energy restriction (-800 Kcal/d). Individuals were randomized into the following dietary regimens: (1) a high calcium diet (HCD; 1200–1300 mg/d) or (2) a low-calcium diet (LCD; < 500 mg/d).

Results: After 16 wk of intervention subjects on HCD compared with those on LCD exhibited greater reduction in waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio. Participants on HCD presented a significant reduction in all biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction evaluated in the study (intracellular
adhesion molecule-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule 1, and E-Selectin), whereas subjects on LCD showed a significant decrease in intracellular adhesion molecule-1 and E-Selectin. Biomarkers of inflammation and fibrinolysis were reduced in both diets, although without reaching statistical significance. The reduction in all markers of inflammation, fibrinolysis, and endothelial dysfunction was similar in both diets.

Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that increased calcium intake during weight loss has no benefits with respect to biomarkers of inflammation, fibrinolysis, and endothelial function.

Keywords: Obesity, Dietary calcium, Inflammation, Endothelial function