P-32: Weight loss and mild physical activity decrease the levels of inflammatory markers in obese patients with metabolic syndrome

Background: Decreased arterial elasticity is considered as an early marker of vascular wall damage and is of predictive value for cardiovascular events. Obesity is a major component of the metabolic syndrome and weight loss had been shown to improve the components of the metabolic syndrome and arterial elasticity, such an effect should affect the inflammatory process that is a part of progression of tissue damage. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the change in arterial elasticity and in blood pressure during significant weight loss enforced in a participation in slimming course. Methods: 66 obese patients with cardiovascular risk factors participated in the study which included a course of 12 weeks, guided by a physician. The participants were instructed about right nutrition and physical activity. The study group included 48 females (73%) and 18 males (27%). The average age was 54.0 years (range 31–-69 years). The levels of BMI, arterial compliance, blood pressure (BP), CRP and fibrinogen were measured at baseline and after 3 months. Results: The average weight decreased from 95.13 +/- 20.21 to 90.5 +/- 21.79 kg. BMI at baseline and after 3 months was 35.5 and 33 respectively. CRP decreased from 0.842 +/- 0.26 to 0.76 +/-0.28 u and fibrinogen levels decreased from 377.56 +/- 54.75 to 362.22 +/- 31.7 mg/dl (p