Effects of visceral fat and weight loss on lipoprotein(a) concentration in subjects with obesity.
We studied the relationships between regional body fat distribution and metabolic variables with lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] as well as the effects of weight loss on Lp(a) in 25 women and 9 men with obesity. Regional body fat distribution, as evaluated by the use of computed tomography; Lp(a); and fasting glucose, insulin, cholesterol, and triglycerides were analyzed before and after a very low-energy diet. No significant correlations were found between visceral, subcutaneous, and total fat and Lp(a) or between metabolic variables and Lp(a). All anthropometric variables significantly decreased after a very low-energy diet. Fasting glucose, insulin, triglycerides, and cholesterol significantly decreased after a very low-energy diet. No significant changes in Lp(a) concentration after a very low-energy diet were found. The correlation between the initial values of Lp(a) and changes of Lp(a) after a very low-energy diet was slightly significant (rho = 0.33, p < 0.06). In conclusion, our study shows that Lp(a) is not influenced by obesity, visceral fat, metabolic variables, or weight loss induced by a very low-energy diet.