Abstract
To determine whether short-term caloric restriction evokes a favorable response in coronary risk factors in obese children, lipoprotein metabolism and lipid peroxide in serum were evaluated. Twenty-four obese children, 13 males and 11 females, were venipunctured just prior to and 2 weeks after they were fed a weight-reducing diet. Activities of lipoprotein lipase and hepatic triglyceride lipase were measured in the plasma obtained 5 minutes after 10 IU/kg of heparin was administered. Serum levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride, atherogenic index, insulin and lipid peroxide were significantly decreased after the dietary therapy. The cholesterol concentrations in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) subfractions were unaltered, whereas the ratio of HDL2-cholesterol/total cholesterol was increased after the diet. Thus, there was an improvement in most of the coronary risk factors studied here. Hepatic dysfunction, which was improved by the dietary therapy, appeared to contribute to the elevated serum total cholesterol level. The levels of serum apolipoprotein Al, A2 and B decreased during the therapy, while the activities of lipoprotein lipase and hepatic triglyceride lipase were unaltered. Serum insulin level cbrrelated with percent ideal body weight, and inversely correlated with cholesterol concentrations in HDL and HDL2. The decrease in serum lipid peroxide level using dietary therapy is suggested not only to reduce atherogeneity but also to protect cells against free radical-mediated injury.
