Arterial Destiffening With Weight Loss in Overweight and Obese Middle-Aged and Older Adults

Abstract

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 (nϭ25; age: 61.2Ϯ0.8 years; body mass index: 30.0Ϯ0.6 kg/m 2 ) or a control (nϭ11; age: 66.1Ϯ1.9 years; body mass index: 31.8Ϯ1.4 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, ␤-stiffness index, and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity were similar in the 2 groups at baseline (all PϾ0.05). Body weight (Ϫ7.1Ϯ0.7 versus Ϫ0.7Ϯ1.1 kg), body fat, and abdominal adiposity decreased in the weight loss group but not in the control group (all PϽ0.05). Brachial systolic and diastolic blood pressures declined (PϽ0.05) only in the weight loss group. Central systolic and pulse pressures did not change significantly in either group. ␤-Stiffness index (Ϫ1.24Ϯ0.22 versus 0.52Ϯ0.37 U) and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (Ϫ187Ϯ29 versus 15Ϯ42 cm/s) decreased in the weight loss group but not in the control group (all PϽ0.05). The reductions in carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity were correlated with reductions in total body and abdominal adiposity (rϭ0. all PϽ0.05). 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.

Body Fat Is Associated With Reduced Aortic Stiffness Until Middle Age

“…50 Two interventional studies have recorded a small fall in PWV after weight loss in overweight or obese middle-aged adults but whether the effect is similar in younger adults remains unknown. 9,51 The relationship between excess cardiovascular risk and the degree of obesity is nonlinear, and our findings indicate that the cardiovascular response to dietary interventions might be expected to vary according to age group and the proportion of body fat at baseline. [52][53][54] Further research is needed to determine in which obesity phenotypes and age groups weight loss interventions are most effective in leading to improved cardiovascular outcomes.…”

Clinical Phenotypes in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction

“…Increased arterial stiffness in this mouse model is related to sympathetic nervous system activation, reduced nitric oxide bioactivity, and inflammation. Voluntary weight loss with a low‐calorie diet for 12 weeks is associated with a decrease in arterial stiffness in overweight/obese, middle‐aged, and elderly subjects 121. The decrease in arterial stiffness correlates with a reduction in total body weight and abdominal obesity 121.…”

“…Voluntary weight loss with a low‐calorie diet for 12 weeks is associated with a decrease in arterial stiffness in overweight/obese, middle‐aged, and elderly subjects 121. The decrease in arterial stiffness correlates with a reduction in total body weight and abdominal obesity 121. Aerobic exercise training and a low‐calorie diet for 7 weeks reduces arterial stiffness to a greater extent than diet alone in morbidly obese subjects 122.…”

Aerobic physical exercise and arterial de-stiffening: a recipe for vascular rejuvenation?

“…The present study adds to a number of investigations, which have consistently shown a reduction in cfPWV over the short term, following different lifestyle interventions, including not only physical exercise [11][12][13][14][15][16] but also weight loss, smoking cessation and salt intake restriction [17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25] (Table 1).…”