Effect of distinct lifestyle interventions on mobilization of fat storage pools CENTRAL magnetic resonance imaging randomized controlled trial

Yftach Gepner, Ilan Shelef, Dan Schwarzfuchs, Hila Zelicha, Lilac Tene, Anat Yaskolka Meir, Gal Tsaban, Noa Cohen, Nitzan Bril, Michal Rein, Dana Serfaty, Shira Kenigsbuch, Oded Komy, Arik Wolak, Yoash Chassidim, Rachel Golan, Hila Avni-Hassid, Avital Bilitzky, Benjamin Sarusi, Eyal GoshenElad Shemesh, Yaakov Henkin, Michael Stumvoll, Matthias Blüher, Joachim Thiery, Uta Ceglarek, Assaf Rudich, Meir J. Stampfer, Iris Shai

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

BACKGROUND: We aimed to assess whether distinct lifestyle strategies can differentially affect specifc body adipose depots. METHODS: We performed an 18-month randomized controlled trial among 278 sedentary adults with abdominal obesity (75%) or dyslipidemia in an isolated workplace with a monitored provided lunch. Participants were randomized to isocaloric low-fat or Mediterranean/low-carbohydrate (MED/LC) diet+28 g walnuts/day with/without added moderate physical activity (PA; 80% aerobic; supervised/free gym membership). Overall primary outcome was body fat redistribution, and the main specifc end point was visceral adipose tissue (VAT). We further followed the dynamics of different fat depots (deep and superfcial subcutaneous, liver, pericardial, muscle, pancreas, and renal sinus) by magnetic resonance imaging. RESULTS: Of 278 participants (age, 48 years, 89% men, body mass index, 30.8 kg/m2), 86% completed the trial with good adherence. The low-fat group preferentially decreased reported fat intake (-21.0% versus-11.5% for the MED/LC; P<0.001), and the MED/LC group decreased reported carbohydrates intake (-39.5% versus-21.3% for the low-fat group; P<0.001). The PA+ groups signifcantly increased the metabolic equivalents per week versus the PA-groups (19.0 versus 2.1; P=0.009). Whereas fnal moderate weight loss was indifferent, exercise attenuated the waist circumference rebound with the greatest effect in the MED/LCPA+ group (P<0.05). VAT (-22%), intrahepatic (-29%), and intrapericardial (-11%) fats declines were higher than pancreatic and femur intermuscular fats (1% to 2%) loss. Independent of weight loss, PA+ with either diet had a signifcantly greater effect on decreasing VAT (mean of difference,-6.67cm2; 95% confdence interval,-14.8 to-0.45) compared with PA-. The MED/LC diet was superior to the low-fat diet in decreasing intrahepatic, intrapericardial, and pancreatic fats (P<0.05 for all). In contrast, renal sinus and femoral intermuscular fats were not differentially altered by lifestyle interventions but by weight loss per se. In multivariate models further adjusted for weight loss, losing VAT or intrahepatic fat was independently associated with improved lipid profle, losing deep subcutaneous adipose tissue with improved insulin sensitivity, and losing superfcial subcutaneous adipose tissue remained neutral except for an association with decreased leptin. CONCLUSIONS: Moderate weight loss alone inadequately re-ects the signifcant lifestyle effects on atherogenic and diabetogenic fat depots. The MED/LC diet mobilizes specifc ectopic fat depots, and exercise has an independent contribution to VAT loss. Fat depots exhibit diverse responsiveness and are differentially related to cardiometabolic markers. Distinct lifestyle protocols may uniquely induce fat mobilization from specifc anatomic sites.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1143-1157
Number of pages15
JournalCirculation
Volume137
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - 2018
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 American Heart Association, Inc.

Keywords

  • Adipose tissue
  • Diet
  • Obesity
  • Physical activity
  • Randomized controlled trial

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Physiology (medical)

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