Restricción calórica, un método eficaz, sencillo y saludable para perder peso / Caloric restriction, an effective, simple and healthy way to lose weight

Introducción: El modelo de Restricción Calórica (RC) pretende reducir el total de calorías ingeridas por semana. Las dos formas más usuales de alcanzar el déficit calórico deseado (% RC) son reducir la ingesta cada día o establecer unos días intermitentes de ayuno o restricción severa, donde el impacto de la restricción es más importante, tiene menor repercusión sobre la pérdida de masa muscular, y está más facilitada la adherencia al modelo de dieta. Se propone trabajar sobre un modelo de RC cercana al 40% del contenido calórico ordinario, intercalando 3 días de restricción severa (600-800Kcal) por semana con los restantes de ingesta habitual, durante un periodo de 6 semanas. Contenido de la investigación: Dieciocho sujetos sanos y físicamente activos, siguieron una pauta de restricción calórica (34,3 ± 15,4%) durante 6 semanas, en las que mantuvieron su actividad física regular. Al inicio y al final del experimento se determinó la composición corporal por densitometria (DEXA) y se cuantificó la pérdida de peso y su distribución en los diferentes tejidos. También se valoraron las consecuencias de la dieta en parámetros hematológicos y bioquímicos. Conclusiones: Se consigue una pérdida de peso considerable, principalmente a expensas de la masa grasa (de predominio androide), con un menor efecto sobre la masa libre de grasar, y existe una buena tolerancia y adherencia a la pauta propuesta. Consideramos la RC como una buena opción para el ajuste de peso en deportistas (AU)

Introduction: The Calorie Restriction (CR) model aims to reduce the total calories eaten per week. The two most common ways to achieve the desired caloric deficit (% CR) are to reduce intake every day or to establish intermittent fasting or severe restriction days, where the impact of the restriction is more important, has less impact on the loss of mass muscle, and adherence to the diet model is more facilitated. It is proposed to work on a CR model close to 40% of the normal caloric content, intercalating 3 days of severe restriction (600-800Kcal) per week with the rest of habitual intake, over a period of 6 weeks. Content of the research: Eighteen healthy and physically active subjects followed a caloric restriction pattern (34.3 ± 15.4%) for 6 weeks, in which they maintained their regular physical activity. At the beginning and at the end of the experiment the body composition by densitometry was determined and the weight loss and its distribution in the different tissues were quantified. The consequences of diet were also evaluated in hematological and biochemical parameters. Conclusions: A considerable weight loss is achieved, mainly at the expense of the fat mass (predominantly android), with a lower effect on the fat free mass, and there is a good tolerance and adherence to the proposed pattern. We consider CR as a good option for weight adjustment in athletes (AU)

Why is cardiovascular risk stratification important in hypertensive patients?

BACKGROUND: The aim is to evaluate whether cardiovascular (CV) risk stratification in newly diagnosed hypertensive patients according to the European Society of Hypertension (ESH) guidelines, can predict the evolution of target organ damage (TOD) using routine examinations in clinical practice during 1 year. METHODS: Prospective study of recently diagnosed untreated hypertensives. At the moment of inclusion and 1 year later, urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER), blood analysis, electrocardiogram, retinography, self-monitored blood pressure (BP) and ambulatory BP measurement were performed. TOD was defined following the ESH guidelines and evaluated as having favorable or unfavorable evolution. RESULTS: Four hundred and seventy-nine hypertensive patients were included (58.8 years; 43.4% women). The baseline prevalence of TOD was: high UAER (2.4%), left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) (20.7%), advanced lesion of the fundus oculi (FO) (10.2%). After 1 year, no differences were found between the final systolic and diastolic BP neither in the high/very high nor in the low/moderate CV risk groups. Patients with low/moderate CV risk had less unfavorable TOD evolution, LVH (9.2% vs 41.7%; p <0.001), FO advanced damage (0.99% vs 14.3%; p <0.001), high UAER (0.3% vs 5.1%; p <0.005) and amount of TOD (9.2% vs 44.0%; 0<0.001) than those with high/very high CV risk. The odds ratios of favorable TOD evolution adjusted for BP change and antihypertensive drug treatment were (low/moderate vs high/very high CV risk); 5.14 (95% confidence interval, CI, 3.99-6.64) for LVH; 12.42 (6.67-23.14) FO advanced damage; 10.71 (3.67-31.22) high UAER and 13.99 (10.18-19.22) for amount of TOD. CONCLUSIONS: It is possible to detect variations in TOD in hypertensive patients with a 1-year follow-up using the examinations available in routine clinic practice. The risk determined by the ESH guidelines predicts the evolution of TOD at 1 year.