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Effect of weight loss on C3 and C4 components of complement in obese patients
European Journal of Clinical Investigation, 04/26/2012
Hernández-Mijares A et al. - The findings show that in severely obese patients following a very low-calorie diet (VLCD) for 6 weeks produces reductions in factor C3, a biomarker of cardiovascular disease, and a significant improvement in some features of metabolic syndrome. In this way, the abovementioned diet may represent an effective strategy for treating obesity and related cardiovascular risk factors.
Methods- This is a longitudinal intervention study based on a 6-week very low-calorie diet (VLCD), a liquid formula of 603 kcal/day.
- A total of 131 middle-aged patients were distributed among grades II, III and IV of obesity.
- Anthropometric parameters, total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, LDLc, apolipoproteins A-I and B-100, glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR and C3 and C4 levels were evaluated at baseline and after 6 weeks of intervention.
- After VLCD, the moderate weight loss was accompanied by a significant reduction in C3 levels in grade III and grade IV patients (10.2% and 15.4%, respectively; P<0.001).
- C4 levels were not altered.
- Adherence to the diet improved anthropometric parameters and was accompanied by a significant decrease in all lipid profile parameters (P<0.001).
- In addition, weight loss was associated with an improvement in hydrocarbonated metabolism as shown by the decrease in glucose levels and HOMA-IR (P<0.01).