Endothelial dysfunction and postprandial hyperglycemia represent independent risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. Obesity is connected with endothelial impairments; however, it is unclear whether weight loss can modify endothelial function during the postprandial period.
The aim of this study was to evaluate endothelial response (post-ischemic forearm blood flow, PIFBF) in a fasted state and following ingestion of 75 g glucose before and after very low caloric diet (VLCD). 40 obese premenopausal women (age 39.6- 7.8 years, BMI 34.3-3.2 kg/m2) participated in 4-week very low caloric diet (VLCD, 800 kcal/day). Before and after VLCD, the baseline blood flow and PIFBF were measured using a mercury strain gauge plethysmography in fasting state as well as 1 hour after ingestion of 75 g glucose.
Dietary intervention resulted in a 7% weight loss (p<0.05) and a decrease in insulin resistance index HOMA-IR (2.44-1.25 vs. 1.66-0.81, p<0.05). Before VLCD intervention, PIFBF following oral glucose challenge decreased by 8.2-9.1 ml/min/100 g tissue, while after weight loss identical stimulus increased PIFBF by 4.2-8.9 ml/min/100 g tissue (p<0.05).
Plasma ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 decreased by 8% and 10%, respectively, throughout the study. Postprandial endothelial dysfunction is ameliorated following weight loss in obese women.
This finding demonstrates the beneficial effects of weight reduction on atherosclerosis risk.