Effect of diet‐induced weight loss on angiopoietin‐like protein 4 and adipose tissue lipid metabolism in overweight and obese humans

Angiopoietin‐like protein 4 (ANGPTL4) plays a role in lipid partitioning by inhibiting lipoprotein lipase (LPL)‐dependent plasma clearance of triacylglycerol in adipose tissue. We investigated the effects of diet‐induced weight loss on plasma ANGPTL4 concentrations in relation to in vivo adipose tissue LPL activity and lipolysis and adipose tissue ANGPTL4 release in overweight/obese participants. Sixteen individuals (BMI: 28–35 kg/m2; 10 women) were randomized to a dietary intervention composed of either a low‐calorie diet (1250 kcal/day) for 12 weeks (n = 9) or a very low‐calorie diet (500 kcal/day) for 5 weeks, followed by a 4‐week weight stable period. Before and after the intervention, we measured arteriovenous concentration differences in combination with adipose tissue blood flow before and after intake of a high‐fat mixed meal with [U‐13C]‐palmitate to assess in vivo adipose tissue LPL activity and lipolysis. The intervention significantly reduced body weight (−8.6 ± 0.6 kg, P