[Low-calorie diet, exercise and hypertension. 2 pilot studies using a protein-rich low-calorie diet powder...

In the first study the physical performance in ten healthy overweight persons was assessed before and after a four week diet period. An exercise treadmill test (Bruce protocol) was used. No significant change in average oxygen uptake was found. Nine overweight men on antihypertensive treatment were put on the same diet, eight of them completed the study. The diet was well tolerated, and most of the men achieved better blood pressure control. In five of them the doses of antihypertensive medication could be reduced. The average weight loss was ten kilos in one group and eight kilos in the other. Since these were pilot studies with small numbers of participants, care should be taken in drawing general conclusions. The results are nevertheless promising, and we discuss the application of this regimen in patients in general practice.