The role of adipokines in the improvement of diabetic and cardiovascular risk factors within a 52-week weight-loss programme for obesity.

BACKGROUND

Obesity is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease and diabetes weight reduction not only reduces the risk for these diseases but leads to an alteration of the circulating adipokine levels. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of weight loss and lifestyle changes implemented in the form of the interdisciplinary weight management programme Optifast52® on cardiovascular and diabetic risk factors and on key adipokines.

METHODS

72 morbidly obese patients were included in the programme, which consisted of a very low-calorie diet followed by incremental food introduction and dietary stabilisation, accompanied by medical surveillance, physical activity, dietary counselling and psychological support. At baseline, and after 14, 26 and 49 weeks, risk factor profiles and adipokine levels were evaluated.

RESULTS

43 patients completed the programme with an average weight reduction of about 20%. Significant improvement was observed in the lipid and diabetic laboratory panels of all patients. In addition, adiponectin levels increased significantly (7.79 vs. 12.38μg/ml, p<0.001), while leptin levels decreased (7.29 vs 3.09ng/ml, p<0.001) during the course of the programme.

CONCLUSION

In this study, Optifast52®, a multidisciplinary programme focusing on diet and lifestyle changes, was found not only to affect a decrease in parameters associated with diabetes and cardiovascular disease, but also to ameliorate in part the obesity-related imbalance of pro- and anti-inflammatory adipokines.