Korean J Nutr.  2003 Nov;36(9):924-932.

Caloric Restriction vs Testosterone Treatment ; The Effect on Body Fat Distribution and Serum Lipid Levels in Overweight Male Patients with Coronary Artery Disease

• Lee JH
• Chae JS
• Koh SJ
• Kang SM
• Choi DH
• Jang YS

Abstract

In middle-aged men, abdominal obesity has been an important risk factor of coronary artery disease (CAD) as well as a predictor of hypertension, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance and glucose intolerance. Particularly, risks from abdominal obesity increase when adipose tissue accumulates in visceral compartment. Many studies showed that weight reduction by caloric restriction improves abdominal obesity and reduces lots of cardiovascular risk factors. Testosterone treatment also results in a significant decrease in visceral fat area and normalizes endocrine metabolism. However there is no study that compare the effect of caloric restriction with that of testosterone treatment. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of caloric restriction and that of testosterone treatment on body fat distribution, serum lipids and glucose metabolism in male patients with CAD. Forty five middle-aged overweight-obese men with CAD participated in 12 weeks' program. They were matched with age, body weight, body mass index (BMI) and divided into three groups: control group (n=15) , caloric restriction group (-300 kcal/day, n=15) and testosterone treatment group (testosterone undecanoate tablets, n=15) . After 12 weeks, control group did not have any changes in anthropometries, lipid profile, body fat distribution, glucose metabolism and hormonal status. Expectedly, caloric restriction group showed decreases in body weight, BMI, waist to hip ratio, % body fat. Ten percentage of total cholesterol and 23% of triglyceride in serum were also decreased. In body fat distribution, total fat areas at both L1 and L4 levels were significantly reduced in this group without reduction in muscle of thigh and calf. However, testosterone treatment group did not have any significant changes in body weight, % body fat, serum lipid profile and abdominal fat distribution. In conclusion, weight reduction by caloric restriction is more beneficial in body fat distribution and serum lipid level than testosterone treatment in overweight male patients with CAD. This result suggests that modest weight reduction is possible to help decrease risk factors of CAD.

Keyword

abdominal obesity; weight reduction; testosterone treatment; caloric restriction; subcutaneous fat; visceral fat

MeSH Terms

Abdominal Fat
Adipose Tissue*
Body Fat Distribution*
Body Mass Index
Body Weight
Caloric Restriction*
Cholesterol
Coronary Artery Disease*
Coronary Vessels*
Dyslipidemias
Glucose
Glucose Intolerance
Humans
Hypertension
Insulin Resistance
Intra-Abdominal Fat
Male*
Metabolism
Obesity, Abdominal
Overweight*
Risk Factors
Subcutaneous Fat
Tablets
Testosterone*
Thigh
Triglycerides
Waist-Hip Ratio
Weight Loss
Cholesterol
Glucose
Tablets
Testosterone