Two Years of Calorie Restriction and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors

Abstract

BACKGROUND

For several cardiometabolic risk factors, values considered within normal range are associated with increased risks of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. However, very little is known about the short- and long-term effects of caloric restriction (CR) with adequate nutrition on these risk factors in healthy lean or slightly overweight young and middle-aged individuals.

METHODS

Cardiometabolic risk factor responses to a prescribed 25% CR diet for 2-years were evaluated in a multicenter randomized controlled trial in 218 young and middle-aged (21 to 50 y), healthy non-obese (body mass index 22 to 27.9 kg/m ²) men and women.

RESULTS

Over two years, participants in the CR group achieved 11.9% CR and a sustained 10% weight loss, of which 71% was fat mass loss. CR caused a significant and persistent reduction of all measured conventional cardiometabolic risk factors, including LDL-cholesterol, total cholesterol to HDL-cholesterol ratio, systolic and diastolic blood pressure. In addition, CR resulted in a significant improvement in C-reactive protein, glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity index, and metabolic syndrome score relative to control. A secondary analysis revealed the responses to be robust after controlling for relative weight loss changes.

CONCLUSIONS

Two years of moderate caloric restriction significantly reduced multiple cardiometabolic risk factors in young, non-obese men and women. These findings suggest the potential for significant cardiovascular advantage of practicing moderate CR in young and middle-aged healthy individuals, and they offer promise for significant long-term population health benefits.