How effective is the obesity treatment on improving oxidative stress? Is there any difference between drugs?

Introduction and Aim: Obesity shortens the life period and decreases its quality with causing several complications. Most important complication that cause mortality is related to cardiovascular system. Recently, oxidative stress which is produced by lipid peroxydation considered as cardiovascular risk factor.In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship of weight loss with lipid profile, insulin resistance, peroxidation products malondialdehit-1 (oxidant) and paraoxonase-1(PON-1, antioxidant) levels which is protective in atherosclerosis, and to evaluate alteration on oxidative stress.Material and Methods: The patients who were diagnosed as obese at Endocrinology and Metabolism Diseases Outpatients Clinics of Inonu University Medical Faculty between August 2005 and February 2008 were screened. A total of 103 patients (14 male and 89 female) were included in the study. Patients with abnormal liver and renal functions test were excluded. Study population was divided into two treatment groups. In the first group 120 mg orlistat three times per day and in the second group sibutramine 15 mg per day were administered adjunct to the diet therapy. The patients were evaluated at the end of three-months treatment period.Result: Dramatic changes on body weight, BMI, waist and hip circumference were observed at the third-month evaluation of the patients who were administered orlistat or sibutramine. Additionally, significant improvements were measured on systolic and diastolic blood pressure, lipid levels and insulin resistance. The decrease in the oxidant (MDA) level and the increase in the antioxidant (PON) level were similar and significant in both patient groups.Conclusion: Obesity treatment which aims to reduce the body weight is effective on decreasing oxidative stress by increasing paraoxonase-1 activity (antioxidant) and decreasing the amount of peroxidation product MDA (oxidant), and this is independent from the type of administered drugs.