Weight loss cuts level of heart-risk-linked protein

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Weight loss cuts level of heart-risk-linked protein

By Faith Reidenbach

NEW YORK, Feb 04 (Reuters Health) - A study conducted in Vermont has

yielded more evidence that weight loss reduces the risk of illness and

death due to heart disease.

Obese postmenopausal women who lost a substantial amount of weight

showed significantly lower blood levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), a

marker of heart disease risk, according to the study results.

CRP is an inflammatory protein released in response to infection or

injury. Persistent elevation of CRP is thought to raise the risk of

heart disease.

That happens because CRP and other similar substances known as cytokines

tend to attract cells to the site of inflammation. This contributes to

the formation of cholesterol deposits inside arteries, thus increasing

the risk of illness and death from heart disease, and making the

deposits prone to rupture, which is what causes a heart attack.

" Many studies have demonstrated a link between obesity and CRP

production, and between obesity and interleukin-6 as well, " lead

investigator Dr. Andre Tchernof told Reuters Health. He explained that

interleukin-6, which like CRP is a cytokine, is secreted by fat tissue,

and in turn stimulates secretion of CRP in the liver. Thus, people with

an excess of fat tissue have too much CRP.

" So the next question that comes to mind is whether weight loss will

reduce CRP, " Tchernof said. To investigate this question, he and

colleagues at the University in Vermont in Burlington analyzed blood

samples taken during a weight-loss study that had been conducted

earlier.

The study involved 25 white postmenopausal women, all of whom met the

medical definition of obesity.

During several months on a supervised diet, the women lost an average of

33 pounds, Tchernof's group reports in the February 5th issue of

Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association. They lost an

average 25% of their fat mass.

Furthermore, the women's blood levels of CRP declined by close to

one-third. Overall, the reduction was greater than could have occurred

by chance, and proportional to changes in body weight and fat mass.

" Weight loss may represent an important intervention to reduce CRP

levels, " the research team concludes.

And the reduction in CRP levels was just one indication of lowered risk

of illness and death from heart disease, Tchernof said.

" For example, levels of HDL cholesterol ( " good " cholesterol) also went

up in our study with the weight loss, " he noted. " And glucose disposal

also went up with the weight loss. " Efficient glucose disposal indicates

that the body is able to use insulin well and therefore reflects a low

risk of diabetes, which is itself a risk factor for heart disease.

" So several risk factors are changing in a favorable way with weight

loss, " Tchernof commented.

No study results have been published on the effect of weight loss on CRP

levels in men, he noted.

SOURCE: Circulation 2002;105.