Enhanced weight loss with protein-enriched meal replacements in subjects with the metabolic syndrome.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of a protein-rich diet in comparison with a conventional protein diet on weight loss, weight maintenance, and body composition in subjects with the metabolic syndrome.

METHODS:

Obese subjects received instructions for an energy-restricted diet with a calorie deficit of 500 kcal/day and were randomly assigned to either high-protein (1.34 g/kg body weight) or conventional protein (0.8 g/kg body weight) diets for 12 months. Protein-enriched meal replacements were used to enrich one arm of the diet with protein throughout the study. In all, 67% of the participants completed the 1-year study.

RESULTS:

Subjects following the high-protein diet lost more body weight and more fat mass compared with those on the conventional protein diet, whereas the loss of fat-free mass was similar in both diet groups. Biochemical parameters associated with the metabolic syndrome improved in both diet groups. Improvements were modestly greater in subjects with the high-protein diet. After 12 months of treatment, 64.5% of the subjects in the high-protein diet group and 34.8% of the subjects in the conventional diet group no longer met three or more of the criteria for having the metabolic syndrome.

CONCLUSIONS:

Individuals with the metabolic syndrome achieved significant weight loss while preserving fat-free mass when treated with an energy-restricted, high-protein diet that included nutrient-dense meal replacements, as compared with the results for conventional protein intake. An intervention with a protein-enriched diet may have advantages for the management of the metabolic syndrome.

• Authors: Marion Flechtner-Mors, Bernhard O Boehm, Regina Wittmann, Ulrike Thoma, Herwig H Ditschuneit
• Journal: Diabetes/metabolism research and reviews (Diabetes Metab Res Rev) Vol. 26 Issue 5 Pg. 393-405 (Jul 2010) ISSN: 1520-7560 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 20578205 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright (c) 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Chemical References

• Dietary Proteins

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Body Composition (drug effects)
• Diet, Reducing (methods)
• Dietary Proteins (administration & dosage)
• Energy Intake
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Metabolic Syndrome (diet therapy)
• Middle Aged
• Obesity (diet therapy)
• Weight Loss (drug effects)