The effects of caloric restriction- and exercise-induced weight loss on left ventricular diastolic function

Little is known about the effects of weight loss on diastolic function. Furthermore, it is not known whether both caloric restriction (CR)- and exercise (Ex)-induced weight loss have salutary effects on diastolic function. Therefore, we assessed the effects of yearlong CR (n = 12) and Ex (n = 13) interventions, which induced ∼12% weight loss, on diastolic function in healthy, nonobese (body mass index = 23.5-29.9 kg/m²) men and women aged 50 to 60 yr. Recordings of Doppler transmitral flow and Doppler tissue imaging were acquired and analyzed by conventional approaches and a validated parameterized diastolic filling (PDF) formalism. Isovolumic relaxation time decreased after weight loss in both groups (P < 0.05). Septal peak early mitral annular velocity (E′) increased (P < 0.01) and peak E-wave velocity/E′ decreased (P < 0.05) after weight loss in the CR group. Based on the PDF-derived indexes, CR resulted in a decrease in global ventricular stiffness (k) and increases in longitudinal (septal annulus motion) stored elastic strain (x′_o), peak force (k′x′ _o), and peak stored strain energy (1/2k′x′ _o²). In the Ex group, k was unchanged, although septal x′_o and 1/2k′x′_o ² increased significantly and k′x′_o (P = 0.13) tended to increase. We conclude that weight loss, whether induced by CR or Ex, has salutary effects on diastolic function.