Effects of a 12-week lifestyle intervention on health outcome and serum adipokines in middle-aged Korean men with borderline high blood pressure.

Plain-language summary

This study asked whether a 12-week lifestyle program changes blood pressure and adipokines (hormones released by fat tissue) in middle-aged Korean men with borderline high blood pressure. Fifty-two men, some of normal weight and some obese, had five one-to-one counselling sessions on a balanced diet, low sodium and regular exercise. After 12 weeks their weight, BMI, body fat, waist and hip measurements and blood pressure had all fallen. The lipid picture is mixed rather than simply better: total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and HDL cholesterol all fell, and HDL is the one you want high, so the ratio of LDL to HDL improved only in the obese men. Leptin and adiponectin did not show a significant change. Men who started with higher leptin tended to see less of a fall in diastolic blood pressure.

Key findings

• Weight, BMI, body fat, waist circumference and blood pressure all fell significantly over 12 weeks.
• Total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and CRP all fell, so the good cholesterol came down with the bad.
• The ratio of LDL to HDL improved significantly only in the obese men.
• Leptin and adiponectin did not show a significant change.