Changes in total and central fat mass after a hypocaloric diet associate with changes of apoC-I in postmenopausal obese women

►Postmenopausal healthy obese women were studied.►Baseline apolipoprotein concentrations did not correlate with fat mass.►Baseline apolipoprotein concentrations did not correlate with insulin sensitivity.►Hypocaloric diet did not significantly change plasma lipids.►Hypocaloric diet did not significantly change apolipoprotein concentrations.►Weight loss-induced changes of central fat mass correlated with changes of apoC-I.

BackgroundWe previously reported the secretion of apolipoprotein apoC-I, apoC-II, apoC-III, and apoE from adipose tissue in postmenopausal obese women, suggesting their potential regulation by energy balance in humans.ObjectiveWe examined the changes of these apolipoproteins, in relation to changes in cardiometabolic risks, following a hypocaloric diet in overweight/obese women.Methods/ResultsA total of 137 postmenopausal overweight/obese women who were free of chronic disease were examined at baseline, 56 women of whom were reevaluated following a 6-month hypocaloric diet. At baseline, there was no association between the plasma transferable apolipoproteins with any index of adiposity, insulin sensitivity, lipids, or inflammation, except for apoE with peripheral fat mass (r = 0.18, P < .05), and apoC-II and apoC-III with cholesterol (r = 0.23 and r = 0.20 respectively, P < .05). The hypocaloric diet reduced adiposity, insulin resistance, and inflammatory markers but had no significant effects on plasma transferable apolipoproteins or lipids, whose average concentrations were within normal range at baseline. The changes in total and central, but not peripheral, fat mass associated with changes of apoC-I only (r = 0.28 and r = 0.43; respectively, P < .05). Post-weight-loss apoC-I increased in some women (52%) yet it decreased in others, however there were no differences in cardiometabolic risk factors between the 2 groups.ConclusionsPlasma apoC-I, apoC-II, apoC-III, and apoE are not associated with adiposity, insulin sensitivity, or inflammation in obese but healthy postmenopausal women. Post-weight-loss changes of total and central fat mass associate with changes of apoC-I.