Weight Loss, Changes in Body Composition and Inflammatory Status After a Very Low-energy Ketogenic Therapy (VLEKT): Does Gender Matter?

Overview

Journal J Transl Med

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialties Biomedical Engineering
General Medicine

Date 2024 Oct 19

PMID 39427162

Authors

Giovanna Muscogiuri

Ludovica Verde

Evelyn Frias-Toral

Claudia Reytor-Gonzalez

Giuseppe Annunziata

Mattia Progano

Silvia Savastano

Daniel Simancas-Racines

Annamaria Colao

Luigi Barrea

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Considering differences in body composition and inflammatory status between sexes, as well as recent recommendations advocating for personalized dietary approaches, this study aimed to explore how sex influences weight loss, changes in body composition, and inflammatory status in subjects with grade I and II obesity undergoing a 45-day of the Very Low-Energy Ketogenic Therapy (VLEKT).

Methods: Participants (21 premenopausal females and 21 males), included in the study adhered to the 45-day of the VLEKT and underwent assessments of anthropometric parameters (weight, height, body mass index-BMI -, and waist circumference), body composition via bioelectrical impedance analysis, and inflammatory status measured by high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels at baseline and post-intervention.

Results: At baseline, premenopausal females and males did not differ in BMI (p = 0.100) and hs-CRP levels (p = 0.948). Males demonstrated overall larger benefits than premenopausal females from the VLEKT in terms of weight loss (Δ% = - 11.63 ± 1.76 vs - 8.95 ± 1.65 kg, p < 0.001), fat mass (Δ% = - 30.84 ± 12.00 vs -21.36 ± 4.65 kg, p = 0.002), and hs-CRP levels (Δ% = - 41.42 ± 21.35 vs - 22.38 ± 17.30 mg/L, p = 0.003). Of interest, in males phase angle values are statistically improved compared to female (Δ% = 17.11 ± 9.00 vs 7.05 ± 3.30°, p < 0.001).

Conclusion: These findings underscore the importance of considering sex-specific responses in personalized obesity treatment strategies, particularly dietary interventions like VLEKTs.

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