Prolonged Caloric Restriction in Obese Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Decreases Myocardial Triglyceride Content and Improves Myocardial Function

Prolonged Caloric Restriction in Obese Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Decreases Myocardial Triglyceride Content and Improves Myocardial Function Sebastiaan Hammer, Marieke Snel, Hildo J. Lamb, Ingrid M. Jazet, Rutger W. van der Meer, Hanno Pijl, Edo A. Meinders, Johannes A. Romijn, Albert de Roos, Johannes W. A. Smit In type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), myocardial triglyceride (TG) stores are increased. We studied the effects of prolonged caloric restriction on myocardial TG content, myocardial function, and glucoregulation in obese patients with T2DM. Caloric restriction decreased body weight associated with improved glucoregulation, a decrease in myocardial TG content, and improvements in diastolic function. We conclude that myocardial TG stores in obese patients with T2DM are flexible and amendable to therapeutic intervention by caloric restriction. Therefore, the data emphasize the potential relevance of measuring myocardial TG content as a surrogate marker to assess the effects of metabolic interventions on the heart.