Beneficial effects of dietary intervention on serum lipid and apolipoprotein levels in obese children.

Effects of weight reduction on serum levels of lipids and apolipoproteins were measured in 13 obese children (seven girls, six boys). Mean weight loss of 8.4% of the initial body weight was achieved after 4 weeks of energy intake restriction and exercise. Serum total cholesterol (5.46 +/- 1.01 mmol/L) and triglyceride (2.08 +/- 0.52 mmol/L) levels were significantly high compared with control values before treatment and were significantly reduced to 4.32 +/- 0.75 and 1.31 +/- 0.42 mmol/L, respectively, after treatment. Serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level (1.03 +/- 0.23 mmol/L) was significantly low and unchanged after treatment (0.94 +/- 0.25 mmol/L). Serum apolipoprotein A-I level (0.039 +/- 0.009 mmol/L or 111 +/- 0.26 g/L) was normal before treatment and significantly reduced, to 0.032 +/- 0.007 mmol/L or 0.92 +/- 0.19 g/L, after weight reduction. Serum apolipoprotein B level (0.00019 +/- 0.00007 mmol/L or 1.07 +/- 0.21 g/L) was significantly high before treatment and decreased to the normal range after treatment (0.00014 +/- 0.0009 mmol/L or 0.76 +/- 0.24 g/L). The ratio of apolipoprotein B to apolipoprotein A-I (1.09 +/- 0.29) was significantly high on admission and decreased significantly to 0.64 +/- 0.12 after treatment. Serum apolipoprotein E level (0.0014 +/- 0.0006 mmol/L or 0.05 +/- 0.02 g/L) was normal and decreased to 0.0008 +/- 0.0002 mmol/L or 0.03 +/- 0.01 g/L after treatment. In conclusion, weight reduction achieved by energy intake restriction and exercise had beneficial effects on serum lipid and apolipoprotein concentrations for the prevention of future atherosclerosis.