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Monounsaturated fat-rich diet reduces body adiposity in women with obesity, but does not influence energy expenditure and substrate oxidation: a parallel randomized controlled clinical trial

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 78, pages 335–343 (2024)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background

Obesity is an important and growing health problem whose treatment involves dietary changes. In this context, studying the role of macronutrients in weight loss is required in order to understand which strategies may be applied for weight loss. We aimed to evaluate the effects of diets rich in polyunsaturated (PUFAs) and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) on resting energy expenditure (REE), substrate oxidation, and weight loss in women with obesity.

Methods

Randomized, controlled, single blind, parallel-group clinical trial was conducted for 60 days. Participants (n = 32) were divided into three groups: G1= normocaloric PUFAs-rich diet (12% of total energy expenditure (TEE), 10% of n-6 and up to 2% of n-3); G2= normocaloric MUFAs-rich diet (15–20% TEE); and G3= maintenance of the usual diet. Anthropometric and metabolic variables (REE and substrate oxidation by indirect calorimetry) were evaluated.

Results

G2 decreased body weight (−1.92 ± 1.99 kg, P = 0.02), body mass index (BMI) (−0.69 ± 0.70 kg/m2; P = 0.02), waist circumference (WC) (−1.91 ± 1.82 cm; P = 0.02), and body fat (−1.14 ± 1.53 kg; P = 0.04).

Conclusion

MUFAs-rich diet reduces body weight, BMI, body fat, and WC. Clinical Trials: NCT02656940.

Clinical trial registration

Clinical Trials: NCT02656940.

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Fig. 1: Assessment of acidity and peroxide index of extra-virgin olive oil.
Fig. 2: Assessment of acidity and peroxide index of extra-virgin olive and soybean oil.
Fig. 3: Representative scheme of recruitment and selection of volunteers.
Fig. 4: Composition of plasma fatty acids (%) in baseline and changes after dietary intervention in G1, G2, and G3.

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Data availability

The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

We thank for Officilab® (RJ, Brazil) and Vital Âtman® (SP, Brazil) for provide the supplements used by volunteers in this research.

Funding

Funding

This work was supported by the Carlos Chagas Filho Foundation for Research Support of the State of Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ / RJ, Brazil); National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq / Brasília, DF, Brazil).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Nutritional Assessment, Institute of Nutrition Josué de Castro, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, 373 Carlos Chagas Filho Avenue, Sector J, 2nd floor, University City, Rio de Janeiro, 21941-902, Brazil

    Marcelly Cunha Oliveira dos Santos Lopes & Vanessa Chaia Kaippert

  2. Nutrition and Dietetics Department, Institute of Nutrition Josué de Castro, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, 373 Carlos Chagas Filho Avenue, Sector J, 2nd floor, University City, Rio de Janeiro, 21941-902, Brazil

    Louise Crovesy & Eliane Lopes Rosado

  3. Laboratory of Endocrine Physiology Doris Rosenthal, Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, 373 Carlos Chagas Filho Avenue, Sector G, University City, Rio de Janeiro, 21941-902, Brazil

    Denise Pires de Carvalho

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  1. Marcelly Cunha Oliveira dos Santos Lopes
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Contributions

MCOSL concived and designed the experiments, contributed to data extraction, data analysis, and helped write the manuscript, VCK concived and designed the experiments, contributed to data extraction, data analysis, and helped write the manuscript, LC contributed to data extraction and helped write the manuscript, DPC contributed reagentes and materials, provided feedback on the report, ELR concived and designed the experiments, data analysis and provided feedback on the report designed experiments and helped write the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Marcelly Cunha Oliveira dos Santos Lopes.

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Lopes, M.C.O.d.S., Kaippert, V.C., Crovesy, L. et al. Monounsaturated fat-rich diet reduces body adiposity in women with obesity, but does not influence energy expenditure and substrate oxidation: a parallel randomized controlled clinical trial. Eur J Clin Nutr 78, 335–343 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-024-01401-3

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