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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2009 Mar;203(1):206-13.
doi: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2008.05.036. Epub 2008 Jul 7.

Caloric restriction alone and with exercise improves CVD risk in healthy non-obese individuals

Michael Lefevre  1 , Leanne M Redman, Leonie K Heilbronn, Julie V Smith, Corby K Martin, Jennifer C Rood, Frank L Greenway, Donald A Williamson, Steven R Smith, Eric Ravussin; Pennington CALERIE team
Collaborators, Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Caloric restriction alone and with exercise improves CVD risk in healthy non-obese individuals

Michael Lefevre et al. Atherosclerosis. 2009 Mar.

Abstract

Calorie restriction (CR) delays the development of age-associated disease and increases lifespan in rodents, but the effects in humans remain uncertain.

Purpose: Determine the effect of 6 months of CR with or without exercise on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors and estimated 10-year CVD risk in healthy non-obese men and women.

Methods: Thirty-six individuals were randomized to one of three groups for 6 months: Control, 100% of energy requirements; CR, 25% calorie restriction; CR+EX, 12.5% CR+12.5% increase in energy expenditure via aerobic exercise. CVD risk factors were assessed at baseline, 3 and 6 months.

Results: After 6 months, CR and CR+EX lost approximately 10% of body weight. CR significantly reduced triacylglycerol (-31+/-15mg/dL) and factor VIIc (-10.7+/-2.3%). Similarly CR+EX reduced triacylglycerol (-22+/-8mg/dL) and additionally reduced LDL-C (-16.0+/-5.1mg/dL) and DBP (-4.0+/-2.1mmHg). In contrast, both triacylglycerol (24+/-14mg/dL) and factor VIIc (7.9+/-2.3%) were increased in the Control group. HDL-cholesterol was increased in all groups while hsCRP was lower in the Controls versus CR+EX. Estimated 10-year CVD risk significantly declined from baseline by 29% in CR (P<0.001) and 38% in the CR+EX (P<0.001) while remaining unchanged in the Control group.

Conclusions: Based on combined favorable changes in lipid and blood pressure, caloric restriction with or without exercise that induces weight loss favorably reduces risk for CVD even in already healthy non-obese individuals.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Effects of caloric restriction alone or in combination with exercise on serum lipid levels. Data are changes from baseline for (Control group: n=11; CR group: n=12; and CR+EX group: n=12) at months 3 and 6. Error bars are SEM. Statistically significant from baseline: aP < 0.05; bP < 0.01; cP < 0.001.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Effects of caloric restriction alone or in combination with exercise on brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (BA-FMD). Data are change from baseline for the Control group (n=11), CR group (n=12) and CR+EX group (n=12) at months 3 and 6. Error bars are SEM.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Effects of caloric restriction alone or in combination with exercise on estimated 10-year CVD risk relative to baseline. Data are the log of the ratio of month 3 and month 6 over baseline values for 10-year estimated CVD risk for the Control group (n=11), CR group (n=12) and CR+EX group (n=12) at months 3 and 6. Error bars are SEM. Numbers at the top of each bar are estimated percent reduction in risk. Statistically significant from baseline: cP < 0.001.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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