Beneficial effects of dietary intervention on serum lipid and apolipoprotein levels in obese children
H. Endo, Y. Takagi, T. Nozue, K. Kuwahata, F. Uemasu and A. Kobayashi
Department of Pediatrics, Showa University, Toyosu Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
Effects of weight reduction on serum levels of lipids and apolipoproteins
were measured in 13 obese children (seven girls, six boys). Mean weight
loss of 8.4% of the initial body weight was achieved after 4 weeks of
energy intake restriction and exercise. Serum total cholesterol (5.46 +/-
1.01 mmol/L) and triglyceride (2.08 +/- 0.52 mmol/L) levels were
significantly high compared with control values before treatment and were
significantly reduced to 4.32 +/- 0.75 and 1.31 +/- 0.42 mmol/L,
respectively, after treatment. Serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol
level (1.03 +/- 0.23 mmol/L) was significantly low and unchanged after
treatment (0.94 +/- 0.25 mmol/L). Serum apolipoprotein A-I level (0.039 +/-
0.009 mmol/L or 111 +/- 0.26 g/L) was normal before treatment and
significantly reduced, to 0.032 +/- 0.007 mmol/L or 0.92 +/- 0.19 g/L,
after weight reduction. Serum apolipoprotein B level (0.00019 +/- 0.00007
mmol/L or 1.07 +/- 0.21 g/L) was significantly high before treatment and
decreased to the normal range after treatment (0.00014 +/- 0.0009 mmol/L or
0.76 +/- 0.24 g/L). The ratio of apolipoprotein B to apolipoprotein A-I
(1.09 +/- 0.29) was significantly high on admission and decreased
significantly to 0.64 +/- 0.12 after treatment. Serum apolipoprotein E
level (0.0014 +/- 0.0006 mmol/L or 0.05 +/- 0.02 g/L) was normal and
decreased to 0.0008 +/- 0.0002 mmol/L or 0.03 +/- 0.01 g/L after treatment.
In conclusion, weight reduction achieved by energy intake restriction and
exercise had beneficial effects on serum lipid and apolipoprotein
concentrations for the prevention of future atherosclerosis.
