Objective
Abdominal fat accumulation after menopause is associated with low‐grade inflammation and increased risk of metabolic disorders. Effective long‐term lifestyle treatment is therefore needed.
Methods
Seventy healthy postmenopausal women (age 60 ± 5.6 years) with BMI 32.5 ± 5.5 were randomized to a Paleolithic‐type diet (PD) or a prudent control diet (CD) for 24 months. Blood samples and fat biopsies were collected at baseline, 6 months, and 24 months to analyze inflammation‐related parameters.
Results
Android fat decreased significantly more in the PD group (P = 0.009) during the first 6 months with weight maintenance at 24 months in both groups. Long‐term significant effects (P < 0.001) on adipose gene expression were found for toll‐like receptor 4 (decreased at 24 months) and macrophage migration inhibitory factor (increased at 24 months) in both groups. Serum interleukin 6 (IL‐6) and tumor necrosis factor α levels were decreased at 24 months in both groups (P < 0.001) with a significant diet‐by‐time interaction for serum IL‐6 (P = 0.022). High‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein was decreased in the PD group at 24 months (P = 0.001).
Conclusions
A reduction of abdominal obesity in postmenopausal women is linked to specific changes in inflammation‐related adipose gene expression.