Arterial destiffening with weight loss in overweight and obese middle-aged and older adults

Abstract

We tested the hypothesis that weight loss via a hypocaloric diet would reduce arterial stiffness in overweight and obese middle-aged and older adults. Thirty-six individuals were randomly assigned to a weight loss (n=25; age: 61.2+/-0.8 years; body mass index: 30.0+/-0.6 kg/m(2)) or a control (n=11; age: 66.1+/-1.9 years; body mass index: 31.8+/-1.4 kg/m(2)) group. Arterial stiffness was measured via carotid artery ultrasonography combined with applanation tonometry and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity via applanation tonometry at baseline and after the 12-week intervention. Body weight, body fat, abdominal adiposity, blood pressure, beta-stiffness index, and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity were similar in the 2 groups at baseline (all P>0.05). Body weight (-7.1+/-0.7 versus -0.7+/-1.1 kg), body fat, and abdominal adiposity decreased in the weight loss group but not in the control group (all P<0.05). Brachial systolic and diastolic blood pressures declined (P<0.05) only in the weight loss group. Central systolic and pulse pressures did not change significantly in either group. beta-Stiffness index (-1.24+/-0.22 versus 0.52+/-0.37 U) and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (-187+/-29 versus 15+/-42 cm/s) decreased in the weight loss group but not in the control group (all P<0.05). The reductions in carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity were correlated with reductions in total body and abdominal adiposity (r=0.357-0.602; all P<0.05). However, neither total body nor abdominal adiposity independently predicted reductions in arterial stiffness indices. In summary, our findings indicate that weight loss reduces arterial stiffness in overweight/obese middle-aged and older adults, and the magnitudes of these improvements are related to the loss of total and abdominal adiposity.

Figure 1

Change in β-SI after control and weight loss intervention (A). Change in arterial compliance after control and weight loss intervention (B). Change in C–F PWV after control and weight loss intervention (C). Values are mean±SE *P<0.05 vs control.

Figure 2

Relation between changes in β-SI and percentage of weight loss in the pooled sample (A); relation between changes in C–F PWV and percentage of weight loss (B); relation between changes in C–F PWV and changes in visceral fat (C); and relation between changes in C–F PWV and changes in waist circumference (D).

Figure 3

Relation between changes in mean arterial pressure and change in C–F PWV.