Caloric restriction, aerobic exercise training and soluble lectin-like oxidized LDL receptor-1 levels in overweight and obese post-menopausal women

International Journal of Obesity 35, 793-799 (June 2011) | doi:10.1038/ijo.2010.199


Background:

Elevated circulating levels of soluble lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (sLOX-1) have been observed in obese persons and are reduced by weight loss. However, it is not known whether combining caloric restriction (CR) with exercise training is better in reducing sLOX-1 levels than CR alone.


Objective:

We examined whether the addition of aerobic exercise to a weight loss intervention differentially affects sLOX-1 levels in 61 abdominally obese post-menopausal women randomly assigned to a CR only (n=22), CR+moderate-intensity exercise (n=22) or CR+vigorous-intensity exercise (n=17) intervention for 20 weeks. The caloric deficit was ~2800 kcal per week for all groups.


Results:

The intervention groups were similar at baseline with respect to body weight, body composition, lipids and blood pressure. However, plasma sLOX-1 levels were higher in the CR-only group (99.90±8.23 pg ml−1) compared with both the CR+moderate-intensity exercise (69.39±8.23 pg ml−1, P=0.01) and the CR+vigorous-intensity exercise (72.83±9.36 pg ml−1, P=0.03) groups. All three interventions significantly reduced body weight (~14%), body fat and waist and hip circumferences to a similar degree. These changes were accompanied by a 23% reduction in sLOX-1 levels overall (−19.00±30.08 pg ml−1, P<0.0001), which did not differ among intervention groups (P=0.13). Changes in body weight, body fat and maximal oxygen consumption (VO2 max) were not correlated with changes in sLOX-1 levels. In multiple regression analyses in all women combined, baseline sLOX-1 levels (β=−0.70±0.06, P<0.0001), age (β=0.92±0.43, P=0.03) and baseline body mass index (BMI) (β=1.88±0.66, P=0.006) were independent predictors of the change in sLOX-1 with weight loss.

Conclusions:

Weight loss interventions of equal energy deficit have similar effects on sLOX-1 levels in overweight and obese post-menopausal women, with the addition of aerobic exercise having no added benefit when performed in conjunction with CR.