The Effect of Weight Reduction by Energy-Restrictive Diet, on Serum Fasting Insulin and Glucose Levels, in Non-diabetic Obese Men.

Abstract

Weight loss reduces many of the health hazards associated with obesity including insulin resistance, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, sleep apnoea, hypoxemia and hypercarbia, and osteoarthritis. This study is based on the hypothesis that weight-reduction through caloric restriction may normalize the obesity-induced hyperinsulinaemia or insulin resistance in middle-aged obese men who are at a great risk of development of glucose intolerance and diabetes mellitus. Twenty five non-diabetic males with mean age 35.16± 0.48 years (ranged 30 to 40 years) and mean body mass index (BMI) 32.71± 0.34 kg/m² were placed at a low caloric diet (1000-4400 kcal), for 60 days. Following 60-day dietary treatment BMI reduced from 32.71± 0.34 to 29.79± 0.36 kg/m² (P<0.001). This reduction in BMI was accompanied by decrease in fasting levels of insulin (from 217.48± 2.73 to 147.08± 3.83 pmol/l with P<0.001) and glucose (from 91.08±1.35 to 83.36± 1.41 mg/l with P<0.001). The findings of the present study are suggestive that weight reduction through caloric restriction is an effective measure to normalize the obesity-induced hyperinsulinaemia in middle-aged obese men, hence decreasing the risk of development of insulin resistance and glucose intolerance.