HDL-sphingomyelin reduction after weight loss by an energy-restricted diet is associated with the improvement of lipid profile, blood pressure, and decrease of insulin resistance in overweight/obese patients.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Sphingomyelin (SM) diminishes the fluidity of the surface monolayer of high-density lipoproteins (HDL), affecting their intravascular metabolism and antiatherogenic properties. Since overweight is associated with an altered HDL structure, weight loss may result in changes in HDL subclasses, particularly in their SM content. Therefore, we determined the plasma SM concentrations associated to both total HDL and HDL subclasses after weight loss in obese patients.

METHODS:

Fifty overweight patients, 40 women and 10 men, aged 38.6±6.4 y, were given an energy-restricted diet according to their sex, age, and height. No physical activity was prescribed. Plasma SM concentrations of HDL subclasses were determined by a gel surface method developed for this study. Cholesterol of HDL subclasses was also determined by enzymatic methods performed on a gel surface.

RESULTS:

Mean weight lost was 3.5±0.4 kg after 6 weeks of dietary intervention. As expected, insulin resistance and blood pressure decreased whereas lipid profile improved, except for HDL-cholesterol. SM in plasma and in all HDL subclasses significantly decreased after intervention. The magnitude of HDL-SM reduction was statistically associated with the amelioration of the components of the metabolic syndrome; the reduction of BMI explained the decrement of HDL-SM in a multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSION:

HDL-SM decreased after weight loss by an energy-restricted diet. Further, the association of this decrement with the improvement of blood pressure, lipid profile and the decrease of insulin resistance, was statistically significant; all HDL subclasses were similarly affected. Whether a reduction in HDL-SM contributes to the cardiovascular benefits of weight loss remains to be elucidated.

• Authors: Miriam Martínez-Ramírez, Magdalena Madero, Gilberto Vargas-Alarcón, Jesús Vargas-Barrón, José Manuel Fragoso, José Manuel Rodríguez-Pérez, Carlos Martínez-Sánchez, Héctor González-Pacheco, Rocío Bautista-Pérez, Elizabeth Carreón-Torres, Oscar Pérez-Méndez
• Journal: Clinica chimica acta; international journal of clinical chemistry (Clin Chim Acta) Vol. 454 Pg. 77-81 (Feb 15 2016) ISSN: 1873-3492 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 26751808 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Lipoproteins, HDL
• Sphingomyelins

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Blood Pressure
• Caloric Restriction
• Female
• Humans
• Insulin Resistance
• Lipoproteins, HDL (blood)
• Male
• Obesity (blood)
• Overweight (blood)
• Sphingomyelins (blood)
• Weight Loss
• Young Adult