Effect of weight loss on whole body and cellular lipid metabolism in severely obese humans

S. Klein, K. Luu, S. Gasic, A. Green

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

25 Scopus citations

Abstract

We evaluated the effect of diet-induced weight loss on whole body and cellular lipid metabolism in persons with severe upper body obesity in two study protocols. In protocol 1, palmitate and glycerol rates of appearance (R(a)) in plasma were determined during basal conditions in seven subjects [initial body mass index (BMI) = 41.3 ± 2.2 kg/m2] before and after 20.4 ± 3.0 kg weight loss. Total glycerol and palmitate R(a) decreased from 231.0 ± 19.4 and 166.2 ± 16.6 μmol/min, respectively, before weight loss to 162.7 ± 9.5 and 105.0 ± 9.7 μmol/min, respectively, after weight loss (P < 0.01). However, glycerol and palmitate R(a) expressed per kilogram fat mass were similar both before and after weight loss. In protocol 2, subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue was obtained before and after 14.4 ± 2.1 kg weight loss in five subjects (initial BMI = 41.6 ± 2.6 kg/m2). Weight loss caused a 38 ± 8% decrease in adipocyte hormone-sensitive lipase concentration (P < 0.05) but was not associated with any consistent changes in the concentrations of GTP-dependent regulatory proteins, G(i)1α, G(i)2α, and G(s)α. We conclude that diet-induced weight loss ameliorates the increase in basal lipolytic rates in persons with severe upper body obesity. These alterations are associated with changes in cellular hormone-sensitive lipase but not GTP-dependent regulatory protein concentrations.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)E739-E745
JournalAmerican Journal of Physiology - Endocrinology and Metabolism
Volume270
Issue number5 33-5
DOIs
StatePublished - 1996

Keywords

  • G proteins
  • fatty acids
  • glycerol
  • hormone-sensitive lipase
  • stable isotopes

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