The influence of diet with reduction in calorie intake on metabolic syndrome parameters in obese subjects with impaired glucose tolerance

Current therapy of metabolic syndrome includes the assessment of cardiovascular risk together with control of high blood pressure, hyperlipidaemia and prevention of type 2 diabetes with adequate diet and increase in physical activity. To investigate the influence of medical nutritive therapy in obese people with impaired glucose tolerance risk factor for Type 2 Diabetes mellitus and potential consecutive lowering of cardiometabolic risk. The 55 obese (body mass index greater than 30 kg/m2) subjects were divided into two groups, the study group A (n = 35), and the control group B (n = 20). Group A was on diet for a period of 12 weeks (1200-1500 kcal/day diet with 55-65% carbohydrates, 15-18% proteins and 22-23% predominantly unsaturated fats, and 20-40 g fibers/day.). Before and after 12 weeks the following parameters were determined: waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, Index HOMA-IR, HDL cholesterol and triglycerides. After 12 weeks on low calorie diet in Group A there was a decrease in the waist circumference (p = 0.001); systolyc blood pressure (p = 0.001); diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.01); fasting blood glucose (p = 0.001); Index HOMA IR (p < 0.001); triglycerides (p < 0.001) and increase in HDL cholesterol (p < 0.05). These results suggest that implementation of low calorie-high fibers diet with balanced nutritive elements have a positive effect on visceral obesity, fasting glucose, lipid profile, and hypertension in obese people with impaired glucose tolerance and lead to consecutive lowering of cardiometabolic risk.