Original Article Effects of Greater-than-5% Weight Reduction on Hemodynamic, Metabolic and Neuroendocrine Profiles of Grade I Obese Subjects

Original Article M a i l i n g A d d r e s s : V i r g i n i a G e n e l h u • R u a F e l i p e C a m a r ã o , 8 2 -2 0 5 1 1 -0 1 0 -R i o d e J a n e i r o , R J -B r a z i l E-mail: genelhu@uerj. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effects of a greater-than-5% weight reduction in hemodynamic, metabolic, and neuroendocrine profi les of grade I obese subjects. METHODS Observational study with 47 grade I obese subjects, with mean age of 33 years who received monthly orientation regarding diet, physical exercises, and eating behavior for four months. Blood pressure using the auscultatory method and pulse rate were assessed monthly, whereas the following variables (and respective methods) were measured at the beginning and at the end of the study: total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol (enzymatic method), LDL-cholesterol (Friedewald formula), blood glucose (hexokinase method), leptin, adiponectin, renin, aldosterone, insulin (radioimmunoassay) and insulinresistance index (HOMA). RESULTS After adjustment for other variables, significant reductions of 6 mmHg in diastolic blood pressure, 7 pg/ml in renin, 13 mg/dl in total cholesterol and 12 mg/dl in LDL-cholesterol were observed in the greater-than-5% weight reduction group. Also, a tendency to a higher increase in adiponectin levels by the end of the study, as well as a three-fold higher reduction in blood glucose, insulin, and HOMA levels, and a six-fold higher reduction in leptin levels were observed in this group. CONCLUSIONS Non-pharmacological measures that promote a greater-than-5% weight reduction produce hemodynamic, metabolic, and neuroendocrine effects that improve the cardiovascular risk of obese subjects. KEY WORDS Obesity, weight loss, adipocytokines, lipid profi le, renin

Circulating Endocannabinoids and the Polymorphism 385C>A in Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase (FAAH) Gene May Identify the Obesity Phenotype Related to Cardiometabolic Risk: A Study Conducted in a Brazilian Population of Complex Interethnic Admixture.

The dysregulation of the endocannabinoid system is associated with cardiometabolic complications of obesity. Allelic variants in coding genes for this system components may contribute to differences in the susceptibility to obesity and related health hazards. These data have mostly been shown in Caucasian populations and in severely obese individuals. We investigated a multiethnic Brazilian population to study the relationships among the polymorphism 385C>A in an endocannabinoid degrading enzyme gene (FAAH), endocannabinoid levels and markers of cardiometabolic risk. Fasting plasma levels of endocannabinoids and congeners (anandamide, 2-arachidonoylglycerol, N-oleoylethanolamide and N-palmitoylethanolamide) were measured by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry in 200 apparently healthy individuals of both genders with body mass indices from 22.5 ± 1.8 to 35.9 ± 5.5 kg/m2 (mean ± 1 SD) and ages between 18 and 60 years. All were evaluated for anthropometric parameters, blood pressure, metabolic variables, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), adiponectin, leptin, C-reactive protein, and genotyping. The endocannabinoid levels increased as a function of obesity and insulin resistance. The homozygous genotype AA was associated with higher levels of anandamide and lower levels of adiponectin versus wild homozygous CC and heterozygotes combined. The levels of anandamide were independent and positively associated with the genotype AA position 385 of FAAH, C-reactive protein levels and body mass index. Our findings provide evidence for an endocannabinoid-related phenotype that may be identified by the combination of circulating anandamide levels with genotyping of the FAAH 385C>A; this phenotype is not exclusive to mono-ethnoracial populations nor to individuals with severe obesity

Association of polymorphism <i>FAAH</i> 385C>A with AEA, OEA and HMW adiponectin levels.

<p>Values are medians (percentiles 25^th, 75^th).</p><p><i>P</i> values for differences in variables levels between AA and CC + CA genotypes (Mann-Whitney test).</p><p>Variables are age- and sex-adjusted.</p><p>AEA, anandamide; OEA, N-oleoylethanolamide; HMW adip, high molecular weight adiponectin.</p><p>Association of polymorphism <i>FAAH</i> 385C>A with AEA, OEA and HMW adiponectin levels.</p

Stepwise multiple linear regression of anandamide in the entire sample.

<p>b, regression coefficient; EP, standard error of regression coefficient b; β, standard regression coefficient. <i>P</i> value, statistical significance of regression coefficient b; 95% CI, 95% confidence interval for regression coefficient b.</p><p>BMI, body mass index; hsCRP, high sensitive C reactive protein; AA genotype, presence of homozygous genotype AA in position 385 of <i>FAAH</i>.</p><p>Stepwise multiple linear regression of anandamide in the entire sample.</p

Relationships of obesity degrees with (A) AEA, (B) 2-AG and (C) PEA levels.

<p>Values are medians (25^th, 75^th percentiles). Figures show medians and interquartile range. <i>P</i> values for trends of medians (Jonckheere-Terpstra test). *<i>P</i> = 0.04; **<i>P</i> = 0.003. AEA, anandamide; 2-AG, 2-arachidonoylglycerol; PEA, N-palmitoylethanolamide.</p