A pilot weight reduction program over one year significantly reduced DNA strand breaks in obese subjects

• Main Author: Karl-Heinz Wagner
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2015-05-01
• Series: Frontiers in Genetics
• Subjects: Comet Assay; Obesity; BMI; lifestyle change; Weight reduction program
• Online Access: http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/conf.fgene.2015.01.00036/full

Background: Obesity and Overweight which are globally increasing, are one of the main risk factors for the development of chronic, non communicable diseases. This is not only observed in the so called industrialized nations, but mainly targeting the population dense low and middle income countries. Obesity and overweight are not only associated with increased biochemical risk factors concerning e.g. lipid and glucose metabolism, but also with increased oxidative stress and DNA/chromosomal damage. Therefore, one of the main recommendations to reduce disease risk globally is weight reduction. Aim: In a pilot study we assessed the impact of a one year´s supervised weight reduction program on body weight, biochemical parameters and damage to the DNA in obese adults in Austria. Methods: 19 obese school teachers were enrolled in this pilot program. Over the period of one year they received a supervised program considering increased physical activity and a nutritional education. During this year body weight and composition was assessed as well as blood samples were taken. From the blood samples peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were isolated and the comet assay (strand breaks, resistance to H2O2, FPG-sensitive sites) was performed. Results: First results show a highly significant decrease of all measured end points of the comet assay (p<0.0001). Strand breaks decreased by almost 50%, resistance to H2O2 by 25% and FPG-sensitive sites by more than 50% (all p<0.0001). Weight and BMI were also significantly reduced (p<0.0001). Conclusion: A sustainable lifestyle change under supervision including physical activity and diet quality over a period of one year was not only responsible to reduce body weight and BMI but also led to significant reduction in all parameters of the comet assay. These results underline the importance of body weight reduction and highlight the positive changes in DNA stability.